Cost of living in Winston-Salem: rent, homes and salary
For the Winston, NC metro area, BEA gives a regional price parity (RPP) of 92.0 in 2024, and the US is 100. Housing alone is 71.4, so living in Winston-Salem costs 8.0% less than the US average.
- Level of prices
- 92.0US = 100, BEA 2024
- Level of housing prices
- 71.4. Rent prices, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Winston-Salem
A regional price parity compares what one basket of goods and services costs in a given place with the US average, which is set at 100. Winston-Salem lies inside the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, which BEA prices as a single area. Housing (rents) is the item that sits furthest from the US average, at 71.4, or 28.6% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Winston, NC metro | North Carolina | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.0 | 94.3 | −8.0% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | 81.4 | −28.6% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 88.6 | −11.6% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Regional price parities for metro areas and states, 2024, published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S.). BEA regional price parities
What rent costs in Winston-Salem
Asking rent in Winston-Salem typically runs $1,478 a month, using Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for homes listed now. That is up +4.8% on a year. The US figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent, which covers every renting household and not just new leases, comes to $1,271. Asking rent for a full year equals 31% of median household income.
| Rent | Winston-Salem | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,478 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +4.8% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,271 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, as a share of median income | 31% | 28% |
Sources: one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, and Zillow Observed Rent Index.
What homes cost in Winston-Salem
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) placed the value of a typical Winston-Salem home at $260,047 in September 2026. This index measures typical homes in the middle of the market. That figure is 0% on a year, compared with $366,157 in the US. The price equals 4.5 years of median household income, and the US figure is 4.5 as well.
| Home prices | Winston-Salem | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $260,047 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | 0% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +99.6% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 14.7 | 15.8 |
Winston-Salem housing market: price chart since 2000, forecast, and days on market.
What salary you need in Winston-Salem
Two questions determine the Winston-Salem salary needed to buy what your current pay buys: what you earn and where you live.
- Moving from
- Salary
Every city side by side, plus the method: city cost of living comparison.
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How Winston-Salem compares with other cities on cost of living
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Rent, typical | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | 92.0 | 71.4 | $1,478 | $260,047 |
| Durham | 97.6 | 98.9 | $1,626 | $384,724 |
| Wilmington, North Carolina | 96.4 | 93.2 | $1,713 | $416,464 |
| Asheville | 96.5 | 93.4 | $1,726 | $444,478 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. For rent, Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living by city. State-by-state figures: cost of living by state.