City Comparison

Toledo vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

25.2%

Toledo is 25.2% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Toledo would need approximately $100,325 in Wilmington to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Toledo
108
Wilmington
Groceries
98
Toledo
101
Wilmington
Utilities
92
Toledo
94
Wilmington
Transportation
101
Toledo
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
84
Toledo
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Toledo has the same purchasing power as $100,325 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $56,068 in Toledo.

Living in Toledo vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Toledo's housing index of 55 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $128,000 vs $320,000. The $192,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,480 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $825/mo in Toledo compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Toledo and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Toledo 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 92 in Toledo and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Toledo vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 84 in Toledo and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $42,200 in Toledo and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,805 and $47,021 respectively. Toledo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $985/month to housing in Toledo vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Toledo, median rent of $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 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 25.2% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Toledo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $100,325 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Toledo's housing index is 55 with median homes at $128,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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