Raleigh, NC vs Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is moderately more affordable than Raleigh, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Raleigh scores 110 compared to 102 for Wilmington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Raleigh can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Raleigh is $1,468/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wilmington is more affordable at $350,300 median vs $377,800.

Median household income in Raleigh is $82,424 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (+29%). While Raleigh is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Raleigh spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.