Assessing whether Wilmington is expensive to live in depends heavily on which specific city you are evaluating, as living costs vary significantly between locations like Wilmington, Delaware, and Wilmington, North Carolina. In Wilmington, North Carolina, housing costs, coastal insurance premiums, and lifestyle expenses have risen notably over recent years due to high population growth and influxes of new residents and retirees, placing local real estate prices moderately above the national average. Conversely, Wilmington, Delaware, offers a more mixed cost of living profile, with certain neighborhoods remaining relatively affordable compared to major neighboring East Coast metropolitan corridors.