CostIndexUSA

Olympia, WA vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is moderately cheaper than Olympia — 7.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Olympia, you would need $74,400 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.1%
Olympia
116.7
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries8.0%
Olympia
105
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation1.2%
Olympia
104.4
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
Olympia
94.5
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities4.1%
Olympia
91.7
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$74,400
$5,600 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 103.7) = salary × 0.9296. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Wilmington, NC

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

Olympia has 20.1% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

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).

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.