CostIndexUSA

McAllen, TX vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

McAllen is moderately cheaper than Winston-Salem — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in McAllen, you would need $85,700 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+27.7%
McAllen
55.9
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries+3.0%
McAllen
93.8
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation+2.0%
McAllen
101.1
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.1%
McAllen
91.4
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+8.9%
McAllen
81.2
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$85,700
$5,700 more needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0710. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Winston-Salem has 27.7% higher housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

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).

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.