Cost of living in Winston, NC Livability score 71 · cost-of-living index 91.6 (US = 100)
How Winston compares Where Winston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $284k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $284k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $142 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $142 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.77% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.77% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 400 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 400 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Winston Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.6 #51 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 #106 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.21 #51 of 200 Median household income $60,145 #171 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,249 #143 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.18% #103 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.0% #118 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $283,871 #66 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.7× #96 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.8% #59 of 200 Price per square foot $142 #54 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,001 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,546 #93 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,379 Median days on market 14 #76 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.9% #88 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.98% #55 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.77% #73 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,490 #35 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 #65 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $130 #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.10% of value (~$308/yr) #146 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min #101 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 16.3¢/kWh #72 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $146 #72 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $78 #36 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 #106 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,600 #119 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,400 #85 of 200 Avg summer high 89°F #113 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.6" #101 of 200 Annual snowfall 5.2" #89 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 400 #100 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,200 #98 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.