Greenville, NC vs Winston-Salem, NC

Greenville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Greenville scores 79 while Winston-Salem scores 80 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Greenville is $983/month compared to $1,033/month in Winston-Salem — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Greenville has cheaper rent, Winston-Salem actually has lower median home values ($208,200 vs $213,100).

Median household income in Greenville is $50,564 compared to $57,673 in Winston-Salem (-12.3%). While Winston-Salem is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Greenville spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 21.5% in Winston-Salem.