Hope Mills, NC vs Wildwood, FL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wildwood, FL has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher than Hope Mills, NC.

Hope Mills, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,280 / month
Wildwood, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,280 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Hope Mills, NC and Wildwood, FL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $733/month in Wildwood, FL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $158,792 in Wildwood, FL

Regional cost estimates: Hope Mills, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Wildwood, FL uses Orlando, FL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 9.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$733
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$8.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Hope Mills, NC

Population:18K
Cost Index:
87.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$261K

Wildwood, FL

Population:19K
Cost Index:
95.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$268K

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Hope Mills, NC

The Tar Heel State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Wildwood, FL

The Sunshine State

19K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 19K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hope Mills, NC vs Wildwood, FL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 19.9%
Hope Mills, NC
$2,150
Wildwood, FL
$2,577
Difference
$427
more
Other
↑ 10.2%
Hope Mills, NC
$1,738
Wildwood, FL
$1,915
Difference
$177
more
Transportation
↑ 4.6%
Hope Mills, NC
$1,300
Wildwood, FL
$1,360
Difference
$60.26
more
Groceries
↑ 5.2%
Hope Mills, NC
$1,066
Wildwood, FL
$1,121
Difference
$55.01
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.4%
Hope Mills, NC
$577
Wildwood, FL
$631
Difference
$54.19
more
Healthcare
↓ 6.1%
Hope Mills, NC
$668
Wildwood, FL
$627
Difference
$40.95
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,120
To$1,040
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,100
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,280
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,710
To$1,600
↓ $110
Hope Mills, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,140–$1,140/mo

Wildwood, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Hope Mills, NC
$8,233
Monthly in Wildwood, FL
$733
Difference

Home Values

Hope Mills
Wildwood
$261K
Median Value
$268K
↑ +0.7%
YoY Change
↓ -3.5%
↑ +45.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +31%

Homes in Wildwood are 3% more expensive than Hope Mills

Calculate payment - Hope MillsCalculate payment - Wildwood

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$594
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Hope Mills, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Wildwood, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Hope Mills, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Wildwood, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Hope Mills
Wildwood
46 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
75.6%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
58 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
58 days

Before moving from Hope Mills, NC to Wildwood, FL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wildwood, FL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hope Mills, NC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Hope Mills to Wildwood moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Wildwood, FL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hope Mills, NC vs Wildwood, FL

How do the cost estimates for Hope Mills, NC and Wildwood, FL compare?

Wildwood, FL has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher than Hope Mills, NC. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Hope Mills, NC, the model estimates $158,792 in Wildwood, FL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Hope Mills, NC and Wildwood, FL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,280/month in Hope Mills, NC and $1,280/month in Wildwood, FL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between North Carolina and Florida on TaxTakeHome.com

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