CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is moderately cheaper than Harrisburg — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $74,600 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−25.9%
Harrisburg
96.3
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries−4.1%
Harrisburg
100.7
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Harrisburg
102.6
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Harrisburg
92.8
Winston-Salem
93.3
⚡ Utilities−18.2%
Harrisburg
108.1
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 0.9321. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Harrisburg has 25.9% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

Harrisburg vs other cities

Harrisburg, PA
vs
Allentown, PA
Index: 98.7Index: 100
Harrisburg, PA
vs
Erie, PA
Index: 98.7Index: 91
Harrisburg, PA
vs
Lancaster, PA
Index: 98.7Index: 98.3
Harrisburg, PA
vs
Twin Falls, ID
Index: 98.7Index: 92.1
Harrisburg, PA
vs
Joplin, MO
Index: 98.7Index: 85.7

Winston-Salem vs other cities

Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 92Index: 96.5
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 92Index: 98.2
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 92Index: 97.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Glendale, AZ
Index: 92Index: 103.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Chesapeake, VA
Index: 92Index: 97.9

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.