$100k salary, packing up from Virginia Beach

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Wilmington, NC cityscape

next stop after virginia beach

Wilmington

nc · metro 467k

a dispatch from

wilmington

NC

34.23°N

77.95°W

Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.

metro467k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$248

below Virginia Beach's monthly cost

The gap is real. Wilmington costs noticeably less than Virginia Beach, every month.
landable, recorded on the wilmington entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,675/mo

8% cheaper than Virginia Beach(vs $1,819/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$104/mo less in state tax than Virginia Beach

vs 5.75% in Virginia Beach

03after rent

$6,283/mo

$248 more than Virginia Beach

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$448k

19% more expensive than Virginia Beach

vs $375k in Virginia Beach

05metro size

467k

vs 1.8M in Virginia Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

235

pleasant days a year, in wilmington.

Virginia Beach barely cracks 211 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Virginia Beach packs 1.5× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

54/100

5% lower than Virginia Beach

vs 57/100 in Virginia Beach

Closest outdoor draw: Lake Waccamaw State Park, 32.5 mi.

·walk score®

67/100

24% lower than Virginia Beach

vs 88/100 in Virginia Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

5

71% fewer than Virginia Beach

vs 17 nonstops in Virginia Beach

04 · see also

neighbors of wilmington on the map of tradeoffs:

compare wilmington with: