Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Wilmington, North Carolina

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Aerial view of downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, showcasing urban architecture and skyline.
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Wilmington cost of living

Wilmington’s budget needs coastal coverage, transit, and the complete home route

The catalog lists $3,200 local monthly living, $4,535 for a traveler, and $4,601 for a couple. Typical one bedroom rent is $1,240, typical two bedroom rent is $1,428, utilities are $223, food is $460, healthcare is $436, and transportation is $1,064. The car need is Recommended and property taxes are Low.

Census ACS rows list $1,395 median gross rent, $383,800 median owner value, $66,738 median household income, and 47.6 percent owner occupancy for Wilmington. FY2026-27 rates are 34.0 cents per $100 for the City and 30.6 cents for New Hanover County, before possible special districts. Add wind and flood coverage, cooling, repairs, parking, transit or car, prescriptions, and storm preparation.

Planning a monthly budget

Wilmington’s $3,200 local monthly living row needs to carry $1,240 rent, $223 utilities, $460 food, $436 healthcare, $1,064 transportation, coastal coverage, and the Recommended car.

Housing
$1,240
Utilities (in rent)
$223
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

The $3,200 local, $4,535 traveler, and $4,601 couple rows describe different household patterns, not a personal quote.

Comfortable Living
$4,535

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,601

Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,240

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Food, healthcare, utilities, cooling, insurance, taxes, parking, transit, car use, repairs, prescriptions, and storm preparation shape the complete Wilmington household budget.

Dining Out
$233/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Recommended
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
10.6%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
34.3%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
38.8%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$60,320

Could Wilmington fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,200 per month
Two people
$4,601 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,240
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Wilmington in everyday life

Could Wilmington work for you?

What may work well

  • Census and catalog rows provide clear rent, home value, income, tax, utility, care, and transportation starting points.
  • WAVE publishes fixed-route fares and passes that can support some weekly trips.
  • Parks, trails, Riverwalk, care, airport, parking, and senior programs give the budget several kinds of use.

What to think about

  • Wind and flood coverage, drainage, storm supplies, cooling, parking, and insurance can change the home budget.
  • The Recommended car, care, airport, trail, storm, and parking routes still need a weekly price.
  • Current utility, insurance, lodging, neighborhood prices, and household tax calculations remain address-specific.

Before you trust the Wilmington monthly estimate

  1. Price the complete home

    Put $1,240 rent or $1,428 two bedroom rent beside cooling, taxes, wind and flood coverage, utilities, repairs, parking, drainage, and storm supplies.

  2. Check the parcel bill

    Review Wilmington and New Hanover County rates, special districts, assessment, exemptions, flood zone, insurance, and current utility responsibility.

  3. Run the care and errand week

    Map New Hanover Regional, pharmacy, groceries, WAVE, Riverwalk, parks, trail, airport, and the evening return from the possible home.

  4. Compare WAVE and the car

    Price WAVE passes, fuel, insurance, repairs, parking, storm travel, care trips, trail access, and airport use against the exact weekly plan.

Questions retirees ask

How much does it cost to retire in Wilmington?

The catalog lists $3,200 local monthly living, $4,535 for a traveler, and $4,601 for a couple. Typical one bedroom rent is $1,240, utilities are $223, food is $460, healthcare is $436, and transportation is $1,064. Add taxes, cooling, wind and flood coverage, repairs, parking, prescriptions, and storm supplies.

Are property taxes low in Wilmington?

The catalog labels property taxes Low and lists a 0.67 percent effective rate, $2,558 median real estate taxes, and $383,800 median home value. FY2026-27 City and County rates are separate and special districts may apply, so verify the current parcel bill.

Can you live in Wilmington without a car?

The catalog car need is Recommended, and WAVE publishes 12 fixed routes with more than 400 stops. Review the exact home, stop, care, pharmacy, groceries, Riverwalk, trail, storm, parking, mobility, and airport routes before deciding how much driving is needed.

What extra costs should coastal retirees plan for?

Wind and flood coverage, cooling, drainage, storm supplies, parking, repairs, trees, taxes, prescriptions, care travel, and vehicle or transit costs can all affect the household budget beyond rent and food.

Wilmington’s cost case starts with a coastal city’s parks, care, transit, and catalog budget rows, but wind and flood coverage, taxes, cooling, parking, and the exact home route need full pricing. For the Wilmington budget, choose Save, Compare, or Find my fit.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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