City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 5.3% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $105,300 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $438 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Winston, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Winston, NC ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.7% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (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
| Milwaukee, WI | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,951 in Winston | $105,317 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$438/yr.
85 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$438/yr.
53 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Winston, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Winston, NC | Real change, Milwaukee → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $56,510 | $59,515 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $124,130 | $130,730 (+5.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $78,950 | $83,148 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $86,120 | $90,699 (−6.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.