High Point vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
High Point
Wilmington
The Verdict
High Point is 18.4% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in High Point would need approximately $91,964 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 High Point has the same purchasing power as $91,964 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $61,165 in High Point.
Living in High Point vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
High Point's housing index of 61 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $249,000 vs $320,000. The $71,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in High Point compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in High Point and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in High Point 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 High Point and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in High Point vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in High Point 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 $49,200 in High Point and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,571 and $47,021 respectively. High Point residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,148/month to housing in High Point vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In High Point, median rent of $1,075/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 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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