City Comparison

Olathe vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Olathe

Kansas
106
Above Average
$364,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$114,000
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

2.9%

Living in Wilmington costs 2.9% less than Olathe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Olathe, you would need $72,877 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
106
Olathe
108
Wilmington
Groceries
96
Olathe
101
Wilmington
Utilities
98
Olathe
94
Wilmington
Transportation
95
Olathe
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
102
Olathe
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Olathe has the same purchasing power as $72,877 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $77,184 in Olathe.

Living in Olathe vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Olathe's housing index of 106 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $364,000 vs $320,000. The $44,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,425/mo in Olathe compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Olathe 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 $114,000 in Olathe and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,547 and $47,021 respectively. Olathe residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,660/month to housing in Olathe vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Olathe, median rent of $1,425/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 Groceries, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilmington is 2.9% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Olathe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,877 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Olathe's housing index is 106 with median homes at $364,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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