Median rent is 45% lower in Winston-Salem ($1,033/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Winston-Salem, where the median home runs $208,200 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $57,673 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Winston-Salem, NC
How much would you need to earn in Winston-Salem, NC to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Winston-Salem — median rent of $1,033/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 45% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $208,200 in Winston-Salem — 76% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 4.50% in North Carolina, so Winston-Salem is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 4.75% in North Carolina; Winston-Salem has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Winston-Salem
Income tax: 4.50%
Sales tax: 4.75%
Winston-Salem has cleaner air on average: 55.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Winston-Salem if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,033/mo median).
Pick Winston-Salem if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 55.0).
Pick Winston-Salem if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.50%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Winston-Salem?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Winston-Salem?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,033/mo in Winston-Salem, NC. Winston-Salem, NC has the lower rent by about 45%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Winston-Salem?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $57,673 in Winston-Salem, NC. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Winston-Salem, NC has better air quality on average: 55.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Winston-Salem?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and North Carolina's is 4.50%. Winston-Salem, NC has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Winston-Salem to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology