Chapel Hill, NC vs Wilmington, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Wilmington is 24% cheaper than Chapel Hill. With a cost index of 102 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Wilmington to Chapel Hill should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Chapel Hill is $1,483/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wilmington is more affordable at $350,300 median vs $576,500.

Median household income in Chapel Hill is $85,825 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (+34.3%). While Chapel Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chapel Hill spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.