Fayetteville, NC vs Winston-Salem, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Winston-Salem, NC and Fayetteville, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fayetteville works out to about $75,100 in Winston-Salem, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.3% lower in Winston-Salem, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,529 a month in Winston-Salem and $1,454 in Fayetteville, $900 a year more in Winston-Salem (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $278,000 in Winston-Salem and $254,000 in Fayetteville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.2%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Fayetteville and Winston-Salem
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
All items Fayetteville, NC: 92.0 Winston-Salem, NC: 92.0
Goods Fayetteville, NC: 96.6 Winston-Salem, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Fayetteville, NC: 73.1 Winston-Salem, NC: 71.4
Utilities Fayetteville, NC: 87.8 Winston-Salem, NC: 88.4
Other services Fayetteville, NC: 98.2 Winston-Salem, NC: 98.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.0 | 92.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 73.1 | 71.4 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Category | Fayetteville | Winston-Salem | Winston-Salem vs Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.0 | 92.0 | +0.1% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 73.1 | 71.4 | −2.3% |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 88.4 | +0.7% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,454 | $1,529 | +5.2% |
| Typical home value | $254,000 | $278,000 | +9.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fayetteville | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Fayetteville and Winston-Salem has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.4 | 91.9 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 92.9 | 92.0 |
| 2011 | 93.6 | 93.2 |
| 2012 | 94.1 | 92.6 |
| 2013 | 93.5 | 92.6 |
| 2014 | 93.5 | 93.1 |
| 2015 | 92.8 | 93.0 |
| 2016 | 92.0 | 93.1 |
| 2017 | 91.4 | 91.6 |
| 2018 | 91.0 | 90.7 |
| 2019 | 89.2 | 89.3 |
| 2020 | 89.0 | 89.5 |
| 2021 | 91.5 | 91.6 |
| 2022 | 91.9 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 91.9 | 91.6 |
| 2024 | 92.0 | 92.0 |
Goods
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 97.4 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2011 | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 96.6 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 71.4 | 68.5 |
| 2009 | 71.1 | 67.1 |
| 2010 | 73.7 | 67.5 |
| 2011 | 73.4 | 70.2 |
| 2012 | 76.2 | 66.7 |
| 2013 | 73.6 | 68.5 |
| 2014 | 74.2 | 69.6 |
| 2015 | 71.7 | 68.3 |
| 2016 | 67.7 | 67.2 |
| 2017 | 67.5 | 64.5 |
| 2018 | 68.3 | 64.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 64.5 |
| 2020 | 67.5 | 67.5 |
| 2021 | 69.4 | 66.3 |
| 2022 | 70.9 | 69.6 |
| 2023 | 71.3 | 68.8 |
| 2024 | 73.1 | 71.4 |
Utilities
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.5 | 86.4 |
| 2009 | 85.8 | 87.1 |
| 2010 | 87.9 | 88.9 |
| 2011 | 87.4 | 88.5 |
| 2012 | 90.1 | 90.4 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 89.5 | 89.8 |
| 2015 | 89.9 | 89.7 |
| 2016 | 87.4 | 87.2 |
| 2017 | 84.0 | 83.2 |
| 2018 | 86.0 | 86.2 |
| 2019 | 87.9 | 88.9 |
| 2020 | 86.6 | 87.4 |
| 2021 | 83.4 | 84.4 |
| 2022 | 80.8 | 81.9 |
| 2023 | 82.8 | 83.0 |
| 2024 | 87.8 | 88.4 |
Other services
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 99.2 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 100.8 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,529 in Winston-Salem vs $1,454 in Fayetteville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $787 | $798 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $795 | $811 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $798 | $819 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $794 | $810 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $800 | $823 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $801 | $840 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $807 | $840 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $804 | $836 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $813 | $854 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $821 | $872 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $824 | $874 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $827 | $872 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $836 | $891 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $846 | $913 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $850 | $914 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $859 | $915 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $874 | $935 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $887 | $959 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $892 | $957 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $897 | $954 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $916 | $986 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $936 | $992 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $964 | $1,029 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $993 | $1,034 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,025 | $1,071 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,101 | $1,129 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,136 | $1,172 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,163 | $1,192 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,216 | $1,229 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,253 | $1,269 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,275 | $1,306 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,274 | $1,285 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,311 | $1,318 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,328 | $1,344 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,330 | $1,359 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,319 | $1,342 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,338 | $1,371 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,366 | $1,397 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,384 | $1,409 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,382 | $1,415 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,396 | $1,426 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,410 | $1,461 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,422 | $1,462 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,423 | $1,451 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,435 | $1,484 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,452 | $1,493 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,454 | $1,529 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $278,000 in Winston-Salem vs $254,000 in Fayetteville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fayetteville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $138K | $137K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $138K | $138K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $138K | $140K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $138K | $141K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $138K | $143K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $137K | $143K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $138K | $144K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $139K | $146K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $140K | $147K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $141K | $149K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $142K | $151K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $143K | $153K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $144K | $155K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $145K | $157K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $146K | $160K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $148K | $163K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $150K | $166K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $152K | $169K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $152K | $171K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $155K | $174K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $159K | $177K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $161K | $180K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $164K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $171K | $195K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $179K | $203K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $186K | $214K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $190K | $219K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $193K | $221K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $205K | $232K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $216K | $246K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $223K | $251K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $229K | $251K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $233K | $249K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $239K | $253K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $243K | $259K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $246K | $263K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $249K | $264K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $253K | $270K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $254K | $271K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $254K | $271K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $255K | $272K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $254K | $271K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $253K | $273K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $255K | $276K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $257K | $279K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $255K | $278K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $254K | $278K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.