Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Wilmington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Wilmington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,955 per month in Dallas, TX vs $2,584 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,348 per month in Dallas, TX vs $3,792 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,740 per month in Dallas, TX vs $4,999 in Wilmington, NC, rent included.

Dallas, TX costs about 14% more than Wilmington, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dallas, TX and Wilmington, NC sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 121%, Wilmington, NC by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$15.03 $15.03

31.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$79.8 $79.8

2.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.06 $11.06

10.04%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.23 $5.23

6.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.44 $2.44

10.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.30 $2.30

-5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.33 $6.33

$4.04 $4.04

56.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.91 $5.91

20.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$4.13 $4.13

-10.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.47 $6.47

-23.49%

Eggs

$4.22 $4.22

$5.52 $5.52

-23.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.46 $13.46

$10.15 $10.15

32.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.73 $13.73

$18.95 $18.95

-27.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.31 $17.31

$22.93 $22.93

-24.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$7.40 $7.40

-36.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.34 $1.34

10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$5.85 $5.85

-24.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$5.20 $5.20

-22.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.25 $4.25

-46.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$6.04 $6.04

-50.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.33 $2.33

-16.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$3.19 $3.19

-27.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 $10.01

$7.90 $7.90

26.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 $15.31

$14.47 $14.47

5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.77 $1.77

19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.97 $4.97

3.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.96 $1.96

49.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$92.8 $92.8

$80.2 $80.2

15.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.94 $3.94

-25.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.58 $1.58

12.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 $23.95

$29.38 $29.38

-18.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.86 $0.86

-11.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.7K $36.7K

$28.9K $28.9K

26.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K $28.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

12.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 $218

$180 $180

21.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$78.7 $78.7

$54.7 $54.7

44.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 $72.7

$69.4 $69.4

4.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.08 $41.08

$61.5 $61.5

-33.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.11 $18.11

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$12.21 $12.21

2.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,162 $1,162

$1,460 $1,460

-20.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.3K $26.3K

$23.1K $23.1K

13.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 $56.0

$54.9 $54.9

2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 $51.5

$49.46 $49.46

4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$104 $104

4.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$114 $114

14.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 $1,681

$1,359 $1,359

23.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 $1,468

$1,208 $1,208

21.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,488 $3,488

$2,367 $2,367

47.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,583 $2,583

$1,932 $1,932

33.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,254 $9,254

$2,772 $2,772

233.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,227 $3,227

$2,726 $2,726

18.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,837 $4,837

$3,882 $3,882

24.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.45

-1.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dallas, TX: July 13, 2026

Last update for Wilmington, NC: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,681 in Dallas, TX versus $1,359 in Wilmington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Dallas, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Dallas, TX versus $80.0 in Wilmington, NC. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Dallas, TX vs $507 in Wilmington, NC – so Dallas, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dallas, TX vs Wilmington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dallas, TX costs about 14% more than Wilmington, NC, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,432 per month in Dallas, TX and $3,877 in Wilmington, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wilmington, NC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,162 per month in Dallas, TX and $1,460 in Wilmington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Dallas, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,955 in Dallas, TX and $2,584 in Wilmington, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Wilmington, NC costs $2,584 versus $2,955 in Dallas, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Wilmington, NC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dallas, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.