City Comparison

Sandy Springs vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sandy Springs

Georgia
135
Expensive
$670,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$101,000
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

31.1%

Living in Wilmington costs 31.1% less than Sandy Springs. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs, you would need $57,222 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
223
Sandy Springs
108
Wilmington
Groceries
103
Sandy Springs
101
Wilmington
Utilities
97
Sandy Springs
94
Wilmington
Transportation
111
Sandy Springs
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
105
Sandy Springs
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has the same purchasing power as $57,222 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $98,301 in Sandy Springs.

Living in Sandy Springs vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Sandy Springs's housing index of 223 is higher Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $670,000 vs $320,000. The $350,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,752 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,825/mo in Sandy Springs compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Sandy Springs and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Sandy Springs 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 97 in Sandy Springs and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Sandy Springs vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Sandy Springs 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 $101,000 in Sandy Springs and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,815 and $47,021 respectively. Sandy Springs residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,357/month to housing in Sandy Springs vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Sandy Springs, median rent of $1,825/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 115 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilmington is 31.1% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 135.
A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $57,222 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Sandy Springs's housing index is 223 with median homes at $670,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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