Oxnard vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Oxnard
Wilmington
The Verdict
Wilmington is 49.5% less expensive than Oxnard overall. A household earning $75,000 in Oxnard would need approximately $50,162 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 Oxnard has the same purchasing power as $50,162 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $112,136 in Oxnard.
Living in Oxnard vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Oxnard's housing index of 253 is higher Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $653,000 vs $320,000. The $333,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Oxnard compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 112 in Oxnard and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Oxnard vs $480/month in Wilmington. Wilmington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Oxnard and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Oxnard vs $376 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 113 in Oxnard 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 $96,200 in Oxnard and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,468 and $47,021 respectively. Oxnard residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,245/month to housing in Oxnard vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Oxnard, median rent of $1,925/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 145 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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