City Comparison

Gresham vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

24.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 24.3%, with Wilmington being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to $60,352 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
108
Wilmington
Groceries
101
Gresham
101
Wilmington
Utilities
96
Gresham
94
Wilmington
Transportation
126
Gresham
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
103
Gresham
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $60,352 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $93,204 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $320,000. The $139,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,036 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham 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 96 in Gresham and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $47,021 respectively. Gresham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilmington is 24.3% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,352 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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