City comparison
Syracuse, NY vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.0% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $104,000 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse, NY to Winston, NC changes real buying power by +4.0%, purely from prices.
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (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
| Syracuse, NY | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,136 in Winston | $104,019 in Syracuse |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,990 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Syracuse, NY MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Syracuse, NY and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Syracuse | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 80.7 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 133.4 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Syracuse, NY → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
81 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
57 Fair 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 Syracuse, NY to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Syracuse, NY | Winston, NC | Real change, Syracuse → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Syracuse, NY | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Syracuse dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $56,510 | $58,781 (−25.2%) |
| Software Developers | $129,100 | $124,130 | $129,119 (+0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,230 | $78,950 | $82,123 (−0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 | $86,120 | $89,581 (+3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.