City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 14.8% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $114,800 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH versus $1,082 in Winston, NC. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Manchester, NH and 17% in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Winston, NC than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Manchester, NH to Winston, NC ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −12.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.4% in real buying power.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
- 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
| Manchester, NH | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,115 in Winston | $114,791 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
100 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Manchester, NH is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Winston, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Winston, NC | Real change, Manchester → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | +1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | +1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | +1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | +1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | +1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $56,510 | $64,868 (−11.6%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $124,130 | $142,490 (−12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $78,950 | $90,627 (+8.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $86,120 | $98,858 (+0.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.