CostIndexUSA

Visalia, CA vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Visalia — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Visalia, you would need $77,300 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.8%
Visalia
84.1
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries8.2%
Visalia
105.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Visalia
105.3
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Visalia
95.3
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities43.8%
Visalia
156.4
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$77,300
$2,700 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 99.8) = salary × 0.9659. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Visalia, CA

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
84.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Wilmington, NC

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

Wilmington has 10.8% higher housing costs compared to Visalia.

Income & Job Market

Visalia, CA

Median Household Income
$73,100
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Population
141,384
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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).

Visalia, CA
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.