Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Jacksonville works out to about $75,000 in Winston-Salem, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.0% 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 $1,577 in Jacksonville, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $278,000 in Winston-Salem and $291,000 in Jacksonville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.9%).
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 Jacksonville and Winston-Salem
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Jacksonville, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
All items Jacksonville, NC: 92.1 Winston-Salem, NC: 92.0
Goods Jacksonville, NC: 96.6 Winston-Salem, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Jacksonville, NC: 72.1 Winston-Salem, NC: 71.4
Utilities Jacksonville, NC: 87.2 Winston-Salem, NC: 88.4
Other services Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.1 | 92.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.1 | 71.4 |
| Utilities | 87.2 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Category | Jacksonville | Winston-Salem | Winston-Salem vs Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.1 | 92.0 | 0.0% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.1 | 71.4 | −1.0% |
| Utilities | 87.2 | 88.4 | +1.4% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,577 | $1,529 | −3.0% |
| Typical home value | $291,000 | $278,000 | −4.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Jacksonville | $75,000 | $75,000 | 0.0% |
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 Jacksonville and Winston-Salem has narrowed since 2008: 2.0 points then, 0.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 91.9 |
| 2009 | 94.3 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 96.2 | 92.0 |
| 2011 | 97.6 | 93.2 |
| 2012 | 95.5 | 92.6 |
| 2013 | 93.8 | 92.6 |
| 2014 | 94.2 | 93.1 |
| 2015 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2016 | 93.7 | 93.1 |
| 2017 | 92.9 | 91.6 |
| 2018 | 90.8 | 90.7 |
| 2019 | 90.1 | 89.3 |
| 2020 | 88.3 | 89.5 |
| 2021 | 89.5 | 91.6 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 91.8 | 91.6 |
| 2024 | 92.1 | 92.0 |
Goods
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 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)
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.5 | 68.5 |
| 2009 | 86.2 | 67.1 |
| 2010 | 88.4 | 67.5 |
| 2011 | 93.9 | 70.2 |
| 2012 | 81.9 | 66.7 |
| 2013 | 75.3 | 68.5 |
| 2014 | 77.5 | 69.6 |
| 2015 | 74.0 | 68.3 |
| 2016 | 74.1 | 67.2 |
| 2017 | 73.7 | 64.5 |
| 2018 | 68.7 | 64.9 |
| 2019 | 70.5 | 64.5 |
| 2020 | 66.4 | 67.5 |
| 2021 | 61.7 | 66.3 |
| 2022 | 72.6 | 69.6 |
| 2023 | 71.3 | 68.8 |
| 2024 | 72.1 | 71.4 |
Utilities
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.7 | 86.4 |
| 2009 | 85.0 | 87.1 |
| 2010 | 87.8 | 88.9 |
| 2011 | 86.6 | 88.5 |
| 2012 | 89.5 | 90.4 |
| 2013 | 88.4 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 89.3 | 89.8 |
| 2015 | 89.3 | 89.7 |
| 2016 | 86.0 | 87.2 |
| 2017 | 81.6 | 83.2 |
| 2018 | 84.8 | 86.2 |
| 2019 | 87.0 | 88.9 |
| 2020 | 85.9 | 87.4 |
| 2021 | 82.9 | 84.4 |
| 2022 | 80.4 | 81.9 |
| 2023 | 82.0 | 83.0 |
| 2024 | 87.2 | 88.4 |
Other services
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 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 $1,577 in Jacksonville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $869 | $798 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $869 | $811 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $865 | $819 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $863 | $810 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $865 | $823 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $870 | $840 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $861 | $840 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $860 | $836 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $869 | $854 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $879 | $872 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $878 | $874 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $882 | $872 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $889 | $891 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $904 | $913 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $911 | $914 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $944 | $915 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $972 | $935 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,002 | $959 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,003 | $957 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $986 | $954 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,000 | $986 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,020 | $992 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,045 | $1,029 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,062 | $1,034 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,082 | $1,071 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,135 | $1,129 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,178 | $1,172 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,227 | $1,192 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,299 | $1,229 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,351 | $1,269 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,387 | $1,306 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,360 | $1,285 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,386 | $1,318 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,415 | $1,344 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,416 | $1,359 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,425 | $1,342 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,442 | $1,371 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,459 | $1,397 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,460 | $1,409 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,470 | $1,415 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,495 | $1,426 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,513 | $1,461 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,509 | $1,462 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,524 | $1,451 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,551 | $1,484 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,568 | $1,493 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,577 | $1,529 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $278,000 in Winston-Salem vs $291,000 in Jacksonville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Jacksonville, 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
| Jacksonville, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $153K | $137K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $153K | $138K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $151K | $140K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $149K | $141K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $146K | $143K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $147K | $143K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $148K | $144K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $149K | $146K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $148K | $147K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $149K | $149K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $150K | $151K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $153K | $153K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $155K | $155K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $156K | $157K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $159K | $160K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $162K | $163K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $167K | $166K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $169K | $169K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $172K | $171K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $176K | $174K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $179K | $177K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $180K | $180K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $183K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $189K | $195K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $196K | $203K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $203K | $214K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $210K | $219K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $216K | $221K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $228K | $232K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $240K | $246K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $247K | $251K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $253K | $251K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $257K | $249K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $262K | $253K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $265K | $259K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $268K | $263K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $271K | $264K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $274K | $270K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $274K | $271K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $277K | $271K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $279K | $272K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $280K | $271K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $282K | $273K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $285K | $276K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $289K | $279K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $290K | $278K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $291K | $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.