Question 1

Is Greensboro or Winston-Salem cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Winston-Salem, NC is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $126/month less than in Greensboro, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,330/mo in Greensboro versus $1,232/mo in Winston-Salem.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Greensboro vs Winston-Salem?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $70,000/year before tax in Greensboro, NC and $67,000/year in Winston-Salem, NC — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Greensboro or Winston-Salem cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Winston-Salem, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,708/month in Greensboro and $8,377/month in Winston-Salem, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Greensboro or Winston-Salem?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Winston-Salem costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Greensboro62	Winston-Salem65
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,841	$3,715
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,708	$8,377
Salary for comfort	$70,000/yr	$67,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,330	$1,232
Median home value	$221,300	$208,200
Median household income	$58,884	$57,673
Unemployment	4.1%	4.1%
Housing score	62	70
Jobs score	57	61
Safety score	16	29
Climate score	100	100
Amenities score	50	36
Population	298.6K	250.9K
Summer high / winter low	88° / 30°	89° / 30°

Greensboro, NC vs Winston-Salem, NC