City comparison
Fayetteville, NC vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, NC (92.0) and Winston, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, NC goes as far as $100,100 in Winston, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,113 a month in Fayetteville, NC and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Fayetteville, NC to Winston, NC ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (much cheaper)
- Winston, NC: price level 92.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.0 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,071 in Winston | $99,929 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,113/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,620 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.1 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.0 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, NC → Winston, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Winston, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, NC to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, NC | Winston, NC | Real change, Fayetteville → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, NC | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,350 | $56,510 | $56,470 (+3.9%) |
| Software Developers | $122,900 | $124,130 | $124,042 (+0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,560 | $78,950 | $78,894 (+0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 | $86,120 | $86,059 (+3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.