Gainesville, FL vs Wilmington, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Wilmington, NC and Gainesville, FL are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Gainesville works out to about $74,800 in Wilmington, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.3% higher in Wilmington, goods 0.4% higher and other services 0.7% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,744 a month in Wilmington and $1,641 in Gainesville, $1,236 a year more in Wilmington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $443,000 in Wilmington and $298,000 in Gainesville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.5%).
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.
Overall prices are about the same in Gainesville and Wilmington
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
All items Gainesville, FL: 96.7 Wilmington, NC: 96.4
Goods Gainesville, FL: 96.2 Wilmington, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Gainesville, FL: 93.0 Wilmington, NC: 93.2
Utilities Gainesville, FL: 88.2 Wilmington, NC: 87.9
Other services Gainesville, FL: 98.9 Wilmington, NC: 98.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.7 | 96.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 93.0 | 93.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Category | Gainesville | Wilmington | Wilmington vs Gainesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.7 | 96.4 | −0.3% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 | +0.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 93.0 | 93.2 | +0.3% |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 87.9 | −0.3% |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 | −0.7% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,641 | $1,744 | +6.3% |
| Typical home value | $298,000 | $443,000 | +48.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Gainesville | $75,000 | $74,800 | −0.3% |
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 Gainesville and Wilmington has narrowed since 2008: 3.9 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 93.2 |
| 2009 | 97.3 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 94.7 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 95.8 | 95.2 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 96.1 | 93.7 |
| 2016 | 95.9 | 95.1 |
| 2017 | 96.1 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 93.9 | 93.5 |
| 2020 | 92.7 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 97.0 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 96.0 |
| 2023 | 97.2 | 95.4 |
| 2024 | 96.7 | 96.4 |
Goods
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 96.1 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 93.5 |
| 2010 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 95.3 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 94.6 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 93.9 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 96.4 | 94.6 |
| 2018 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.0 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 96.3 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.7 | 83.3 |
| 2009 | 101.8 | 84.0 |
| 2010 | 90.2 | 88.2 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 86.0 |
| 2012 | 82.9 | 88.8 |
| 2013 | 86.0 | 85.8 |
| 2014 | 87.4 | 88.7 |
| 2015 | 82.6 | 81.7 |
| 2016 | 81.8 | 87.8 |
| 2017 | 86.2 | 85.9 |
| 2018 | 89.7 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | 86.5 | 85.3 |
| 2020 | 81.0 | 89.6 |
| 2021 | 86.8 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 90.9 |
| 2023 | 92.6 | 87.8 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 93.2 |
Utilities
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 81.6 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 81.9 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 84.8 |
| 2011 | 95.8 | 84.2 |
| 2012 | 93.8 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 91.9 | 87.8 |
| 2014 | 94.7 | 89.5 |
| 2015 | 91.9 | 90.7 |
| 2016 | 87.3 | 88.0 |
| 2017 | 86.9 | 84.3 |
| 2018 | 89.1 | 85.0 |
| 2019 | 89.9 | 87.6 |
| 2020 | 87.0 | 86.1 |
| 2021 | 86.5 | 83.0 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 80.9 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 82.6 |
| 2024 | 88.2 | 87.9 |
Other services
- Gainesville, FL
- Wilmington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 97.0 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 97.1 |
| 2011 | 100.1 | 98.4 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 99.9 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 99.7 |
| 2016 | 101.3 | 99.5 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.7 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.9 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 99.8 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,744 in Wilmington vs $1,641 in Gainesville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Gainesville, FL
- 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
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $899 | $905 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $904 | $913 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $909 | $912 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $935 | $916 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $941 | $937 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $948 | $952 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $933 | $945 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $968 | $965 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $994 | $982 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $995 | $1,007 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $995 | $1,001 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,013 | $1,014 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,040 | $1,020 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,050 | $1,054 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,052 | $1,053 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,073 | $1,102 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,099 | $1,118 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,110 | $1,140 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,132 | $1,142 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,135 | $1,161 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,158 | $1,169 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,166 | $1,213 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,154 | $1,205 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,165 | $1,229 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,197 | $1,279 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,245 | $1,321 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,348 | $1,421 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,405 | $1,459 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,417 | $1,524 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,466 | $1,615 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,500 | $1,653 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,489 | $1,602 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,515 | $1,605 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,547 | $1,640 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,538 | $1,651 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,520 | $1,601 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,547 | $1,601 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,558 | $1,636 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,568 | $1,653 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,560 | $1,626 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,582 | $1,624 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,603 | $1,661 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,609 | $1,665 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,604 | $1,633 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,626 | $1,654 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,627 | $1,707 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,641 | $1,744 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $443,000 in Wilmington vs $298,000 in Gainesville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Gainesville, FL
- 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
| Gainesville, FL | Wilmington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $151K | $213K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $153K | $215K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $156K | $219K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $158K | $223K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $161K | $227K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $163K | $228K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $166K | $229K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $169K | $233K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $172K | $236K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $177K | $241K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $180K | $244K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $183K | $247K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $185K | $251K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $189K | $254K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $193K | $257K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $195K | $259K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $195K | $263K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $197K | $268K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $201K | $270K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $205K | $274K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $210K | $279K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $212K | $283K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $217K | $288K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $227K | $300K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $236K | $313K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $245K | $330K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $253K | $345K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $260K | $357K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $273K | $375K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $288K | $399K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $293K | $407K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $293K | $410K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $293K | $412K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $299K | $421K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $302K | $429K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $305K | $433K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $308K | $438K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $310K | $442K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $309K | $442K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $309K | $444K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $308K | $445K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $304K | $443K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $301K | $440K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $300K | $440K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $302K | $440K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $301K | $441K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $298K | $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.