Juneau vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Juneau
Wilmington
The Verdict
Wilmington is 22.1% less expensive than Juneau overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $61,417 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 Juneau has the same purchasing power as $61,417 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $91,587 in Juneau.
Living in Juneau vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $235,000. The $289,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,780 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $489/month in Wilmington. Wilmington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1140/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $424 in Wilmington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 45-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $44,731 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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