CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 12.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $89,700 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+61.5%
Brownsville
57.7
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries+3.0%
Brownsville
93.8
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+2.0%
Brownsville
101.1
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.1%
Brownsville
91.4
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+8.3%
Brownsville
81.2
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Brownsville to see what you'd need to earn in Wilmington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$89,700
$9,700 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1209. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 61.5% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.