C+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Groceries NAT. AVG.
44%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index Wilmington Island Georgia National
Cost of living11496100
Groceries9899100
Health care10299100
Housing14488100
Transportation9999100
Utilities103102100
Lifestyle & Entertainment102100100
Household Items100100100
Education & Childcare10699100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Wilmington Island, GA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Wilmington Island? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Wilmington Island stands at 114, making it 14% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Wilmington Island cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 44.3% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Wilmington Island Affordable?

Is Wilmington Island affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Wilmington Island, for instance, where the median home price falls 46.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 39.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Wilmington Island flaunting a median household income of $123,551, 51.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wilmington Island?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Wilmington Island, the housing index comes in at 44.3% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Wilmington Island, the groceries index is 2.5% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Wilmington Island, the utilities index registers 2.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Wilmington Island cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Wilmington Island is 19% higher than the Georgia average
  • The cost of living in Wilmington Island is 14% higher than the national average
  • Wilmington Island housing is 44% higher than the national average
  • Georgia general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Georgia state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Wilmington Island

See all the best places to live around Wilmington Island

Compare Wilmington Island, GA Cost of Living

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      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$129,734$10,811$3,027$3,892
      Renters$79,985$6,665$1,866$2,400
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Wilmington Island, GA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Wilmington Island, the median monthly income is $129,734 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $3,027 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $79,985, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,866 on monthly rental expenses.

      Georgia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Georgia 4% 8%

      Georgia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Georgia 1% 5.57%

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Garden City, GA9,315946.3%
      Savannah, GA148,994991.2%
      Georgetown, GA12,9961021.6%
      Port Wentworth, GA9,1531044.3%
      Thunderbolt, GA2,7231098.6%
      Wilmington Island, GA16,11911413.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      La Grange, IL16,12114242.0%
      Traverse City, MI16,11611010.0%
      Isla Vista, CA16,12413231.8%
      Azalea Park, FL16,1061043.8%
      Morton, IL16,1341021.6%
      Wilmington Island, GA16,11911413.7%
      Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.