Median rent is 56% lower in Winston-Salem ($1,087/mo vs $2,476/mo). Buying is cheaper in Winston-Salem, where the median home runs $233,800 versus $1,394,500. Households earn more in San Francisco ($140,970 vs $59,268 a year).
City A
San Francisco, CA
City B
Winston-Salem, NC
How much would you need to earn in Winston-Salem, NC to maintain your standard of living from San Francisco, 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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
San Francisco
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Winston-Salem — median rent of $1,087/mo versus $2,476/mo in San Francisco, a 56% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Francisco: the median home is $1,394,500 versus $233,800 in Winston-Salem — 83% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
San Francisco
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Winston-Salem
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Winston-Salem (avg AQI 43.0) but not yet for San Francisco.
Pick San Francisco if you prioritize higher median household income ($140,970/yr).
Pick Winston-Salem if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,087/mo median).
Is San Francisco cheaper than Winston-Salem?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in San Francisco vs Winston-Salem?
Median rent is $2,476/mo in San Francisco, CA and $1,087/mo in Winston-Salem, NC. Winston-Salem, NC has the lower rent by about 56%.
Which has higher salaries — San Francisco or Winston-Salem?
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco, CA and $59,268 in Winston-Salem, NC. San Francisco, 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?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — San Francisco or Winston-Salem?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Winston-Salem to match my San Francisco income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
