City Comparison

Vienna vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Vienna

Austria
88
Below Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,275/mo
Median Rent
$48,000
Median Income

Wilmington

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

The Verdict

14.6%

Vienna is 14.6% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Vienna would need approximately $87,784 in Wilmington to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
105
Vienna
108
Wilmington
Groceries
85
Vienna
101
Wilmington
Utilities
98
Vienna
94
Wilmington
Transportation
102
Vienna
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
82
Vienna
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Vienna has the same purchasing power as $87,784 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $64,078 in Vienna.

Living in Vienna vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Vienna's housing index of 105 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $320,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,275/mo in Vienna compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 85 in Vienna and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $404/month in Vienna vs $480/month in Wilmington. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Vienna and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Vienna vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 82 in Vienna and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 24-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,000 in Vienna and $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,545 and $47,021 respectively. Vienna residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Vienna vs $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vienna is 14.6% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Vienna has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $87,784 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Vienna's housing index is 105 with median homes at $395,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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