CostIndexUSA

New Haven, CT vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
New Haven
104.6
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is moderately cheaper than New Haven — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Haven, you would need $73,700 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.0%
New Haven
124.3
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries0.7%
New Haven
97.3
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation4.4%
New Haven
107.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare4.3%
New Haven
97.5
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities39.3%
New Haven
144.8
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$73,700
$6,300 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 104.6) = salary × 0.9216. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New Haven, CT

Median Home Price
$386,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
124.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Wilmington, NC

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

New Haven has 25.0% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

New Haven, CT

Median Household Income
$80,700
Per Capita Income
$46,000
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
130,250
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingFinanceGovernment

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).

New Haven, CT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.