Durham, NC vs Wilmington, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Wilmington, NC is 1.2% less expensive than Durham, NC (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Durham works out to about $74,100 in Wilmington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 5.8% less in Wilmington. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,744 a month in Wilmington and $1,640 in Durham, $1,248 a year more in Wilmington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $443,000 in Wilmington and $402,000 in Durham.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.4%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 5.8% lower in Wilmington than in Durham
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | 96.4 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 98.9 | 93.2 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Category | Durham | Wilmington | Wilmington vs Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | 96.4 | −1.2% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 98.9 | 93.2 | −5.8% |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 87.9 | −1.6% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,640 | $1,744 | +6.3% |
| Typical home value | $402,000 | $443,000 | +10.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Durham | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Durham and Wilmington has narrowed since 2008: 4.1 points then, 1.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.3 | 93.2 |
| 2009 | 96.2 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 97.2 | 94.7 |
| 2011 | 97.7 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 95.2 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 97.6 | 93.7 |
| 2016 | 97.5 | 95.1 |
| 2017 | 97.0 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 93.5 |
| 2020 | 94.8 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 96.0 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 95.4 |
| 2024 | 97.6 | 96.4 |
Goods
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 96.1 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 93.5 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 96.9 | 95.3 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 94.6 |
| 2015 | 96.2 | 93.9 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 96.8 | 94.6 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.7 | 83.3 |
| 2009 | 95.1 | 84.0 |
| 2010 | 92.8 | 88.2 |
| 2011 | 91.6 | 86.0 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 88.8 |
| 2013 | 90.8 | 85.8 |
| 2014 | 91.6 | 88.7 |
| 2015 | 92.0 | 81.7 |
| 2016 | 87.5 | 87.8 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 85.9 |
| 2018 | 89.6 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | 90.5 | 85.3 |
| 2020 | 92.4 | 89.6 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 95.3 | 90.9 |
| 2023 | 96.4 | 87.8 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 93.2 |
Utilities
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.0 | 81.6 |
| 2009 | 87.9 | 81.9 |
| 2010 | 89.8 | 84.8 |
| 2011 | 89.2 | 84.2 |
| 2012 | 90.7 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 90.6 | 87.8 |
| 2014 | 91.1 | 89.5 |
| 2015 | 90.9 | 90.7 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 88.0 |
| 2017 | 84.5 | 84.3 |
| 2018 | 87.6 | 85.0 |
| 2019 | 90.0 | 87.6 |
| 2020 | 88.2 | 86.1 |
| 2021 | 85.3 | 83.0 |
| 2022 | 83.7 | 80.9 |
| 2023 | 84.6 | 82.6 |
| 2024 | 89.3 | 87.9 |
Other services
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 97.0 |
| 2009 | 97.9 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 97.1 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 98.4 |
| 2012 | 100.6 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 99.9 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 99.7 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 99.5 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,744 in Wilmington vs $1,640 in Durham
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,003 | $905 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,019 | $913 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,004 | $912 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,022 | $916 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,040 | $937 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,056 | $952 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,056 | $945 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,073 | $965 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,084 | $982 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,106 | $1,007 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,111 | $1,001 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,108 | $1,014 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,131 | $1,020 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,157 | $1,054 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,148 | $1,053 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,157 | $1,102 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,184 | $1,118 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,217 | $1,140 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,215 | $1,142 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,192 | $1,161 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,231 | $1,169 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,238 | $1,213 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,246 | $1,205 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,248 | $1,229 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,260 | $1,279 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,349 | $1,321 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,424 | $1,421 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,425 | $1,459 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,467 | $1,524 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,544 | $1,615 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,563 | $1,653 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,539 | $1,602 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,560 | $1,605 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,589 | $1,640 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,567 | $1,651 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,565 | $1,601 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,578 | $1,601 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,603 | $1,636 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,588 | $1,653 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,569 | $1,626 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,592 | $1,624 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,619 | $1,661 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,599 | $1,665 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,595 | $1,633 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,611 | $1,654 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,623 | $1,707 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,640 | $1,744 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $443,000 in Wilmington vs $402,000 in Durham
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Durham, NC
- Wilmington, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Wilmington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $213K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $201K | $215K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $219K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $207K | $223K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $210K | $227K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $214K | $228K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $217K | $229K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $221K | $233K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $225K | $236K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $229K | $241K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $233K | $244K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $237K | $247K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $241K | $251K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $246K | $254K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $250K | $257K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $254K | $259K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $257K | $263K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $260K | $268K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $263K | $270K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $267K | $274K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $271K | $279K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $274K | $283K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | – | $288K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $293K | $300K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $305K | $313K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $322K | $330K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $337K | $345K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $352K | $357K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $376K | $375K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $403K | $399K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $406K | $407K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $398K | $410K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $392K | $412K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $397K | $421K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $406K | $429K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $410K | $433K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $412K | $438K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $416K | $442K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $415K | $442K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $416K | $444K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $416K | $445K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $414K | $443K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $412K | $440K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $412K | $440K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $410K | $440K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $405K | $441K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $402K | $443K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.