City Comparison

Roswell vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

9.7%

Living in Wilmington costs 9.7% less than Roswell. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Roswell, you would need $68,363 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
187
Roswell
108
Wilmington
Groceries
101
Roswell
101
Wilmington
Utilities
98
Roswell
94
Wilmington
Transportation
110
Roswell
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
103
Roswell
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roswell has the same purchasing power as $68,363 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $82,282 in Roswell.

Living in Roswell vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Roswell's housing index of 187 is higher Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $647,000 vs $320,000. The $327,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Roswell compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Roswell and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Roswell 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 Roswell and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Roswell vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Roswell 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 $108,800 in Roswell and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $96,283 and $47,021 respectively. Roswell residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,539/month to housing in Roswell vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/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 79 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilmington is 9.7% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Roswell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,363 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Roswell's housing index is 187 with median homes at $647,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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