City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lexington, KY (92.9) and Winston, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lexington, KY goes as far as $99,100 in Winston, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,382 a year in KY and $3,481 in NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Lexington, KY to Winston, NC changes real buying power by +0.9%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,089 in Winston | $100,919 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Winston, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$99/yr.
72 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$99/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Lexington, KY to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Winston, NC | Real change, Lexington → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $56,510 | $57,029 (−7.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $124,130 | $125,271 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $78,950 | $79,676 (+2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $86,120 | $86,912 (+10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.