Odessa vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Odessa
Wilmington
The Verdict
Odessa is 17.5% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $90,882 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 Odessa has the same purchasing power as $90,882 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $61,893 in Odessa.
Living in Odessa vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $320,000. The $97,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa 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 100 in Odessa and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,500 in Odessa and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $47,021 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/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 36 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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