CostIndexUSA

Salt Lake City, UT vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

UT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Salt Lake City — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salt Lake City, you would need $76,400 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.4%
Salt Lake City
123.3
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Salt Lake City
96.4
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.8%
Salt Lake City
103.9
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Salt Lake City
94
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+11.3%
Salt Lake City
79
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9554. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Home Price
$554,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
123.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.3×

Wilmington, NC

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

Salt Lake City has 24.4% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Household Income
$94,400
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
200,567
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceTourismGovernment

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).

Salt Lake City, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.