City comparison
Visalia, CA vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 8.5% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $108,500 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,123 a month in Visalia, CA and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,589 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Winston, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Visalia, CA to Winston, NC ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.9% in real buying power.
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
- 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
| Visalia, CA | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.8 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,204 in Winston | $108,455 in Visalia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,130 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Visalia, CA MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Visalia, CA and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Visalia | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.1 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 99.8 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Visalia, CA → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,589/yr.
95 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,589/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Visalia, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Winston, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Visalia, CA to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Visalia, CA | Winston, NC | Real change, Visalia → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +7.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +7.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +7.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +7.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +7.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Visalia, CA | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Visalia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,430 | $56,510 | $61,288 (−37.7%) |
| Software Developers | $126,170 | $124,130 | $134,625 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,400 | $78,950 | $85,625 (+7.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,180 | $86,120 | $93,401 (−25.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.