CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is slightly cheaper than Pittsburgh — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $77,700 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−0.8%
Pittsburgh
72
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries−4.1%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Pittsburgh
102.6
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Pittsburgh
92.8
Winston-Salem
93.3
⚡ Utilities−17.9%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 0.9715. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Pittsburgh has 0.8% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

Pittsburgh vs other cities

Pittsburgh, PA
vs
Allentown, PA
Index: 94.7Index: 100
Pittsburgh, PA
vs
Erie, PA
Index: 94.7Index: 91
Pittsburgh, PA
vs
Harrisburg, PA
Index: 94.7Index: 98.7
Pittsburgh, PA
vs
Orlando, FL
Index: 94.7Index: 101.4
Pittsburgh, PA
vs
Irvine, CA
Index: 94.7Index: 113.6

Winston-Salem vs other cities

Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 92Index: 96.5
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 92Index: 98.2
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 92Index: 97.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Glendale, AZ
Index: 92Index: 103.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Chesapeake, VA
Index: 92Index: 97.9

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.