City comparison
Salem, OR vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 12.6% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $112,600 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $1,082 in Winston, NC. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 17% in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,439 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Winston, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Salem, OR to Winston, NC ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.5% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (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
| Salem, OR | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,803 in Winston | $112,609 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,439/yr.
100 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.2%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,439/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Winston, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Winston, NC | Real change, Salem → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $56,510 | $63,636 (−14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $124,130 | $139,782 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $78,950 | $88,905 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $86,120 | $96,979 (−26.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.