City Comparison

Greensboro vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Greensboro

North Carolina
84
Very Affordable
$230,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$49,500
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

18.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.4%, with Greensboro being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Greensboro has equivalent purchasing power to $91,964 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Greensboro
108
Wilmington
Groceries
96
Greensboro
101
Wilmington
Utilities
98
Greensboro
94
Wilmington
Transportation
92
Greensboro
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
101
Greensboro
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Greensboro has the same purchasing power as $91,964 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $61,165 in Greensboro.

Living in Greensboro vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Greensboro's housing index of 62 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $230,000 vs $320,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Greensboro compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Greensboro and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Greensboro 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 98 in Greensboro and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Greensboro vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Greensboro 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 $49,500 in Greensboro and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,929 and $47,021 respectively. Greensboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,155/month to housing in Greensboro vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Greensboro, median rent of $1,050/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 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Greensboro is 18.4% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Greensboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,964 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Greensboro's housing index is 62 with median homes at $230,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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