CostIndexUSA

Greenville, SC vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is slightly cheaper than Greenville — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $78,900 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing7.0%
Greenville
76.8
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Greenville
96.3
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Greenville
103.2
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Greenville
93.4
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Greenville
88.8
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Greenville to see what you'd need to earn in Winston-Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 93.3) = salary × 0.9861. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Greenville, SC

Median Home Price
$303,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
76.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Greenville has 7.0% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Greenville, SC

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
72,885
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTechnologyAutomotiveFinance

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Greenville, SC
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.