The cost of living in Wilmington dropped slightly in the third quarter of 2015 compared to that of the average U.S. city, according to the national ACCRA cost of living survey published this week and highlighted by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

The city's overall index was 96 out of a national average index of 100, the report stated. The least expensive living costs in the area, compared to a national average of 100, are housing (81.4) and miscellaneous goods and services (96.4). Wilmington's above-average living costs are in the areas of health care (107.7), transportation (105.7) and utilities (112). Groceries, at 100.2, was very close to the national average cost.

Wilmington's overall cost of living index for the second quarter of 2015 was 96.9. For the year's first quarter, it was 99.

Within North Carolina, Raleigh had a lower third-quarter cost of living (89) than did Wilmington. Asheville (96.5) was slightly more expensive than Wilmington, as was Charlotte (97). Charleston, South Carolina had an overall cost of living score of 100.5; Norfolk, Virginia had a score of 97.8, and Washington, D.C. came in at 149.3.

The nation's most expensive place to live, according to ACCRA, is New York City's borough of Manhattan. The least expensive place is McAllen, Texas.