Alexandria vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Wilmington
The Verdict
Wilmington is 39.4% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $53,793 in Wilmington to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $53,793 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $104,567 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $235,000. The $355,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $489/month in Wilmington. Wilmington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $424 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $44,731 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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