The costs of groceries, health care and other life necessities have dropped slightly in Wilmington since the first quarter of 2015 compared to that of the average city, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday.

The announcement was based on the results of the national ACCRA cost of living survey for the second quarter of this year. The overall composite index for Wilmington was 96.9, based on a national average index of 100, while the city's first quarter index score was 99.0, the local chamber's news release said.

Local data for the survey is collected by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and submitted to ACCRA, the release explained. The Cost of Living Index measures the differences in the cost of consumer goods and services between cities for a middle-class standard of living. In the U.S., 271 urban areas participated in the most recent study.

The release said Manhattan was the most expensive city, with an index of 219.7, more than twice the national average. McAllen, Texas was the least expensive metro area, with an index of 80.1.

The full study results are based on more than 90,000 prices covering 60 different items priced by area chambers of commerce, economic development groups, or similar organizations in each urban area during the same three-day time frame. Each community is given a composite index in which the average score is 100, derived from six categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. 
 

2nd Quarter 2015 Cost of Living (select cities)

City	Composite	Grocery	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Healthcare	Misc. goods, services
Wilmington	96.9	98.5	84.9	111.2	102.3	107.7	98.7
Raleigh	89.8	103	71.4	97.9	86.6	99.7	97.5
Charlotte	96.2	105.8	79.6	110.2	94.5	100.5	102.2
Asheville	96.6	98.5	95	90.6	94.8	98.1	99.6
Charleston, S.C.	100.4	107.2	95.4	116.5	90.9	107.1	99.3
Washington, D.C.	147.6	102.7	251.4	95.1	112.1	94.1	114.0
Norfolk, Va.	99.7	91.0	92.7	108.6	99.3	105.4	106.1