City Comparison

Champaign vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Champaign

Illinois
81
Very Affordable
$215,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$56,100
Median Income

Wilmington

Delaware
104
Average
$235,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$46,520
Median Income

The Verdict

22.1%

Living in Champaign costs 22.1% less than Wilmington. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Champaign, you would need $96,296 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
83
Champaign
104
Wilmington
Groceries
98
Champaign
103
Wilmington
Utilities
106
Champaign
106
Wilmington
Transportation
99
Champaign
103
Wilmington
Healthcare
90
Champaign
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $96,296 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $58,413 in Champaign.

Living in Champaign vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Champaign's housing index of 83 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $235,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $489/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 106 in Champaign and 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $424 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 and $44,731 respectively. Champaign residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/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 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Champaign is 22.1% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,296 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Champaign's housing index is 83 with median homes at $215,000, while Wilmington's is 104 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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