City Comparison

Canton vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Canton

Ohio
79
Very Affordable
$120,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$41,500
Median Income

Wilmington

North Carolina
103
Average
$320,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$48,432
Median Income

The Verdict

23.3%

Living in Canton costs 23.3% less than Wilmington. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Canton, you would need $97,785 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
48
Canton
108
Wilmington
Groceries
104
Canton
101
Wilmington
Utilities
101
Canton
94
Wilmington
Transportation
94
Canton
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
103
Canton
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $97,785 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $57,524 in Canton.

Living in Canton vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Canton's housing index of 48 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $320,000. The $200,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,996 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton vs $480/month in Wilmington. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Canton and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton 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 $41,500 in Canton and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 and $47,021 respectively. Canton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Canton, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canton is 23.3% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Canton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,785 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Canton's housing index is 48 with median homes at $120,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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