City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Peoria, IL (91.2) and Winston, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Peoria, IL goes as far as $100,900 in Winston, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,082 a month in Winston, NC versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Winston, NC and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,324 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Winston, 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 Peoria, IL to Winston, NC changes real buying power by −0.9%, purely from prices.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (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
| Peoria, IL | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,890 in Winston | $99,118 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Winston, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,324/yr.
66 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$1,324/yr.
72 Strong 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 Peoria, IL to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Winston, NC | Real change, Peoria → 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 | Peoria, IL | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $56,510 | $56,011 (−2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $124,130 | $123,035 (−5.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $78,950 | $78,254 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $86,120 | $85,360 (+5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.