City Comparison

Roseville vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

35.0%

Wilmington is 35.0% less expensive than Roseville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Roseville would need approximately $55,576 in Wilmington to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
179
Roseville
108
Wilmington
Groceries
105
Roseville
101
Wilmington
Utilities
163
Roseville
94
Wilmington
Transportation
134
Roseville
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
106
Roseville
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roseville has the same purchasing power as $55,576 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $101,214 in Roseville.

Living in Roseville vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Roseville's housing index of 179 is higher Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $625,000 vs $320,000. The $305,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,824 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Roseville compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Roseville and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Roseville 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 163 in Roseville and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $652 in Roseville 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 106 in Roseville 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 $142,800 in Roseville and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $102,734 and $47,021 respectively. Roseville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,332/month to housing in Roseville vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/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 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilmington is 35.0% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,576 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Roseville's housing index is 179 with median homes at $625,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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