CostIndexUSA

Manchester, NH vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is moderately cheaper than Manchester — 8.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Manchester, you would need $73,000 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing30.6%
Manchester
134.2
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries1.1%
Manchester
97.7
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation5.3%
Manchester
108.9
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare5.3%
Manchester
98.5
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities34.2%
Manchester
133.5
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$73,000
$7,000 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 105.7) = salary × 0.9120. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Manchester, NH

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
134.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.0×

Wilmington, NC

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

Manchester has 30.6% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Manchester, NH

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
115,644
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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).

Manchester, NH
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.