CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Fayetteville and Winston-Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing2.3%
Fayetteville
73.1
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fayetteville
103.1
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fayetteville
93.3
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+0.7%
Fayetteville
87.8
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Winston-Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Fayetteville has 2.3% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.