Winston-Salem, NC vs Staunton, VA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Staunton, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Winston-Salem works out to about $74,300 in Staunton, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.4% lower in Staunton, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.4% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,448 a month in Staunton and $1,529 in Winston-Salem, $972 a year less in Staunton (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $335,000 in Staunton and $278,000 in Winston-Salem.
- 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 Winston-Salem and Staunton
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.0 | 91.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | 68.2 |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.6 |
| Category | Winston-Salem | Staunton | Staunton vs Winston-Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.0 | 91.1 | −1.0% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.8 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 | 68.2 | −4.4% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 89.5 | +1.2% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.6 | +0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,529 | $1,448 | −5.3% |
| Typical home value | $278,000 | $335,000 | +20.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Winston-Salem | $75,000 | $74,300 | −1.0% |
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 Winston-Salem and Staunton has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.9 | 89.5 |
| 2009 | 90.7 | 85.8 |
| 2010 | 92.0 | 88.3 |
| 2011 | 93.2 | 87.9 |
| 2012 | 92.6 | 90.2 |
| 2013 | 92.6 | 90.8 |
| 2014 | 93.1 | 91.2 |
| 2015 | 93.0 | 91.4 |
| 2016 | 93.1 | 83.9 |
| 2017 | 91.6 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 90.7 | 92.4 |
| 2019 | 89.3 | 89.5 |
| 2020 | 89.5 | 87.6 |
| 2021 | 91.6 | 92.8 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 91.4 |
| 2023 | 91.6 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 92.0 | 91.1 |
Goods
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 93.8 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 90.6 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 92.8 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 91.1 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 90.4 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 91.4 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 68.5 | 74.0 |
| 2009 | 67.1 | 68.7 |
| 2010 | 67.5 | 67.4 |
| 2011 | 70.2 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 66.7 | 73.3 |
| 2013 | 68.5 | 73.0 |
| 2014 | 69.6 | 75.2 |
| 2015 | 68.3 | 77.9 |
| 2016 | 67.2 | 53.6 |
| 2017 | 64.5 | 72.8 |
| 2018 | 64.9 | 76.8 |
| 2019 | 64.5 | 70.1 |
| 2020 | 67.5 | 63.5 |
| 2021 | 66.3 | 73.1 |
| 2022 | 69.6 | 68.0 |
| 2023 | 68.8 | 75.2 |
| 2024 | 71.4 | 68.2 |
Utilities
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.4 | 82.1 |
| 2009 | 87.1 | 84.0 |
| 2010 | 88.9 | 84.9 |
| 2011 | 88.5 | 85.6 |
| 2012 | 90.4 | 91.8 |
| 2013 | 90.0 | 88.2 |
| 2014 | 89.8 | 91.6 |
| 2015 | 89.7 | 94.5 |
| 2016 | 87.2 | 93.7 |
| 2017 | 83.2 | 93.8 |
| 2018 | 86.2 | 90.1 |
| 2019 | 88.9 | 93.4 |
| 2020 | 87.4 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 84.4 | 88.0 |
| 2022 | 81.9 | 90.0 |
| 2023 | 83.0 | 89.3 |
| 2024 | 88.4 | 89.5 |
Other services
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 91.0 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 94.5 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 99.0 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.6 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,448 in Staunton vs $1,529 in Winston-Salem
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $798 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $811 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $819 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $810 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $823 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $840 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $840 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $836 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $854 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $872 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $874 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $872 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $891 | $883 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $913 | $869 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $914 | $880 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $915 | $888 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $935 | $896 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $959 | $935 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $957 | $907 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $954 | $943 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $986 | $947 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $992 | $954 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,029 | $1,008 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,034 | $1,007 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,071 | $1,036 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,129 | $1,055 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,172 | $1,094 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,192 | $1,102 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,229 | $1,140 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,269 | $1,186 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,306 | $1,192 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,285 | $1,197 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,318 | $1,198 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,344 | $1,246 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,359 | $1,272 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,342 | $1,282 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,371 | $1,313 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,397 | $1,326 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,409 | $1,351 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,415 | $1,342 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,426 | $1,359 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,461 | $1,372 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,462 | $1,395 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,451 | $1,407 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,484 | $1,433 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,493 | $1,446 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,529 | $1,448 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $335,000 in Staunton vs $278,000 in Winston-Salem
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Staunton, VA
- 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
| Winston-Salem, NC | Staunton, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $137K | $183K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $138K | $185K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $140K | $186K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $141K | $187K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $143K | $188K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $143K | $188K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $144K | $189K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $146K | $191K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $147K | $192K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $149K | $194K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $151K | $196K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $153K | $200K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $155K | $201K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $157K | $203K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $160K | $205K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $163K | $207K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $166K | $211K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $169K | $217K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $171K | $221K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $174K | $224K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $177K | $227K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $180K | $230K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $236K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $195K | $243K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $203K | $250K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $214K | $260K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $219K | $263K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $221K | $265K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $232K | $278K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $246K | $292K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $251K | $293K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $251K | $291K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $249K | $288K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $253K | $293K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $259K | $297K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $263K | $299K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $264K | $302K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $270K | $307K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $271K | $308K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $271K | $312K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $272K | $317K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $271K | $317K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $273K | $320K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $276K | $323K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $279K | $328K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $278K | $332K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $278K | $335K | $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.