Question 1

Is Irving or Winston-Salem cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Winston-Salem, NC is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $317/month less than in Irving, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,517/mo in Irving versus $1,232/mo in Winston-Salem.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $70,500/year before tax in Irving, TX and $67,000/year in Winston-Salem, NC — a difference of about $3,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Irving 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 $9,161/month in Irving and $8,377/month in Winston-Salem, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Irving 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	Irving80	Winston-Salem65
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,032	$3,715
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,161	$8,377
Salary for comfort	$70,500/yr	$67,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,517	$1,232
Median home value	$287,300	$208,200
Median household income	$79,641	$57,673
Unemployment	4.3%	4.1%
Housing score	79	70
Jobs score	59	61
Safety score	82	29
Climate score	92	100
Amenities score	72	36
Population	255K	250.9K
Summer high / winter low	96° / 36°	89° / 30°

Irving, TX vs Winston-Salem, NC