City comparison
Springfield, MO vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Winston, NC are 3.9% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $103,900 in Winston, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,082 a month in Winston, NC versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Winston, NC and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $281 a year higher in Springfield, MO 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 Springfield, MO to Winston, NC changes real buying power by −3.8%, purely from prices.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (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
| Springfield, MO | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,904 in Winston | $96,243 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → Winston, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$281/yr.
57 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$281/yr.
81 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 Springfield, MO to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | Winston, NC | Real change, Springfield → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,380 | $56,510 | $54,387 (+10.1%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $124,130 | $119,467 (+16.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $78,950 | $75,984 (+4.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $86,120 | $82,885 (+4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.