Home › NC › Winston-Salem, NC Cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC Livability score 71 · cost-of-living index 91.6 (US = 100)
How Winston-Salem compares Where Winston-Salem 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, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 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-Salem Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.6 metro-area #51 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #106 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.21 metro-area #51 of 200 Median household income $60,145 metro-area #171 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,249 metro-area #143 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 40.6 years metro-area #158 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 29.6% metro-area #141 of 200 Foreign-born residents 7.3% metro-area #114 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 68.5% metro-area #65 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.18% metro-area #103 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.0% metro-area #118 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $283,871 metro-area #66 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.7× metro-area #96 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.8% metro-area #59 of 200 Price per square foot $142 metro-area #54 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,001 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,546 metro-area #93 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,379 Median days on market 14 metro-area #76 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.9% state #88 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.98% state #55 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.77% metro-area #73 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,490 metro-area #35 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.0 years metro-area #153 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 11.7% metro-area #148 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 77 metro-area #95 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.10% of value (~$308/yr) state #146 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #101 of 200 Commute by driving alone 77.9% metro-area #144 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 30.3% metro-area #85 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 16.3¢/kWh state #72 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $146 state #72 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $78 state #36 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 81.0 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #33 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 50 metro-area #132 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,600 metro-area #119 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,400 metro-area #85 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 31 metro-area #101 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.6" metro-area #101 of 200 Annual snowfall 5.2" metro-area #89 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% metro-area #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 400 state #100 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,200 state #98 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #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.
Top employers in Winston-Salem Major public and private employers in the Winston-Salem, NC area.
Salaries by occupation in Winston-Salem Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $156,990 Marketing Managers $145,980 Pharmacists $137,990 Financial Managers $136,880 Physician Assistants $134,010 Lawyers $129,560 Human Resources Managers $127,490 Software Developers $124,880 Data Scientists $117,450 General & Operations Managers $103,500 Physical Therapists $100,880 Construction Managers $99,560 Registered Nurses $83,020 Mechanical Engineers $83,010 Civil Engineers $80,430 Dental Hygienists $80,410 Accountants & Auditors $76,810 Web Developers $74,930 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $52,020 Electricians $51,120 Elementary School Teachers $51,100 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $50,120 Graphic Designers $49,730 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,610 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,020 Carpenters $46,140 Real Estate Sales Agents $44,760 Medical Assistants $40,570
Find a job in Winston-Salem Cities in the Winston-Salem area
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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 from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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