Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Winston-Salem compared to Fayetteville? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Winston-Salem | Metric | Fayetteville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | -4.5% |
| $230,000 | Median Home Price | $195,000 | -15.2% |
| $950 | Median Monthly Rent | $859 | -9.6% |
| $52,600 | Median Household Income | $49,800 | -5.3% |
| 0.8% | Property Tax Rate | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 4.2% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +9.5% |
| 22 min | Average Commute | 24 min | +9.1% |
| 35.7 | Median Age | 30.2 | -15.4% |
| 680,000 | Metro Population | 520,000 | -23.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Winston-Salem costs $1,382/month (PITI) compared to $1,171/month in Fayetteville — a difference of $211/month or $2,532/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.4x in Winston-Salem versus 3.9x in Fayetteville, suggesting Fayetteville is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.8 years to save a down payment in Winston-Salem compared to 5.2 years in Fayetteville.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Winston-Salem | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $52,600 | $49,800 |
| State Income Tax | $1,694 | $1,575 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,183 | $3,847 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,024 | $3,810 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,817/yr | $1,541/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Total Tax Burden | $9,901 (18.8%) | $9,232 (18.5%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $42,699 | $40,568 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $9,901 in Winston-Salem (18.8% effective) versus $9,232 in Fayetteville (18.5% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $42,699 in Winston-Salem and $40,568 in Fayetteville. Property taxes add $1,817/year on the median Winston-Salem home versus $1,541/year in Fayetteville.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $52,600 in Winston-Salem (COL 88) and relocate to Fayetteville (COL 84), you would need $50,209 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $2,391 and still maintain your lifestyle in Fayetteville.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Winston-Salem is 22 minutes versus 24 minutes in Fayetteville, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Winston-Salem's lower unemployment rate of 4.2% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Winston-Salem skews slightly older with a median age of 35.7 vs 30.2 in Fayetteville.
Winston-Salem is 4.5% more expensive than Fayetteville overall. Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 88 compared to 84 for Fayetteville (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $230,000 in Winston-Salem vs $195,000 in Fayetteville.
The median home price in Winston-Salem is $230,000, which is $35,000 more than Fayetteville's median of $195,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $950/month in Winston-Salem vs $859/month in Fayetteville, a difference of $91/month or $1,092/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $52,600 salary in Winston-Salem is equivalent to $50,209 in Fayetteville. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Winston-Salem's COL index of 88 vs Fayetteville's 84. Conversely, $49,800 in Fayetteville equals $52,171 in Winston-Salem.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $9,901 (18.8% effective rate) in Winston-Salem vs $9,232 (18.5% effective rate) in Fayetteville. Property taxes on the median home are $1,817/year in Winston-Salem (0.8% rate) vs $1,541/year in Fayetteville (0.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 4.8% in North Carolina and 4.8% in North Carolina.
Winston-Salem median household income: $52,600/yr. Fayetteville median household income: $49,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $950 in Winston-Salem vs $859 in Fayetteville. Annualized that is $11,400 vs $10,308.
Fayetteville offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 88), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Winston-Salem typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Winston-Salem and Fayetteville numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Winston-Salem vs Fayetteville cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .