Cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC

Everyday prices in Winston-Salem run 8.0% below the US average. The typical home lists for $334,900, about $1,840 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,117 a month.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

8% cheaperEveryday prices¹Than the US average
$334,900Typical home^2,3$1,840/mo mortgage
$1,1172-bedroom rent⁴A month, utilities in
25 minAverage commute⁷Each way

Rent in Winston-Salem

Median rent by size, utilities included, next to the US. Full rent breakdown⁴

Studio$1,098/mo
Winston-Salem
$1,098
US
$1,365
Income to keep it at 30%: $43,920⁵
1 bedroom$994/mo
Winston-Salem
$994
US
$1,362
Income to keep it at 30%: $39,760⁵
2 bedrooms$1,117/mo
Winston-Salem
$1,117
US
$1,563
Income to keep it at 30%: $44,680⁵
3 bedrooms$1,465/mo
Winston-Salem
$1,465
US
$1,760
Income to keep it at 30%: $58,600⁵
4 bedrooms$1,663/mo
Winston-Salem
$1,663
US
$2,153
Income to keep it at 30%: $66,520⁵

What it takes to live in Winston-Salem

Matches $100,000 at US prices¹$92,043
Typical household income⁶$70,675US: $84,780
Housing costs¹29% cheaperThan the US average
North Carolina income tax⁸3.99% flatCompare states

Compare Winston-Salem with any other city

Places that cost less than Winston-Salem

The same typical home costs less each month in 21 of the cities we cover. The biggest and smallest gaps:^2,3

All 54 cities, cheapest first

Winston-Salem cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC?

Everyday prices in Winston-Salem run 8.0% below the US average. The typical home lists for $334,900, about $1,840 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,117 a month.

How much is rent in Winston-Salem?

The median rent, utilities included, is $994 a month for a 1-bedroom and $1,117 for a 2-bedroom (Census ACS, 2025). Keeping a 2-bedroom at 30% of income takes about $44,680 a year.

What salary in Winston-Salem matches $100,000 elsewhere in the US?

About $92,043 buys what $100,000 buys at US-average prices, using BEA regional price parities for 2024.

What is the typical household income in Winston-Salem?

$70,675 a year, against $84,780 for the US (Census ACS, 2025).

Where can I live for less than Winston-Salem?

Of the cities we cover, Muncie, IN ($843 a month less on the typical home), Terre Haute, IN ($798 a month less on the typical home), Paducah, KY ($497 a month less on the typical home).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices and housing costs: BEA regional price parities, 2024, where the US average is 100.
2Typical home: the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B25031, median gross rent by number of bedrooms (rent plus utilities the renter pays), 2025. $3,500+ is the highest figure the Census publishes. Census table
5Income to keep rent at 30%: a year of rent divided by 0.3, the common rule of thumb. Our arithmetic.
6Household income: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B19013, median household income, 2025. Census table
7Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table
8Income tax: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (Feb 17, 2026); NCDOR, North Carolina Child Deduction, 2026. Top rate for married couples filing jointly. Tax source

Sources for this page