Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Winston-Salem, NC and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Winston-Salem, NC: $2,428 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

117

Cost of Living Index in Winston-Salem, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Winston-Salem, NC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,428

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Winston-Salem, NC and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Winston-Salem, NC and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,428 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

Winston-Salem, NC $2,428
Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,722 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

Winston-Salem, NC $3,722
Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,016 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

Winston-Salem, NC $5,016
Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Winston-Salem, NC costs roughly 36% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Winston-Salem, NC 78% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.94 $22.94

$25.30 $25.30

-9.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$101 $101

-21.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$14.76 $14.76

-30.96%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$6.50 $6.50

-17.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.21 $3.21

-10.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.14 $3.14

-37.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.97 $7.97

-35.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$8.13 $8.13

-24.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.17 $1.17

23.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.30 $5.30

-10.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.40 $6.40

53.13%

Eggs

$5.46 $5.46

$5.06 $5.06

7.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.33 $18.33

$18.71 $18.71

-2.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.95 $13.95

$18.72 $18.72

-25.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.68 $26.68

$22.88 $22.88

16.61%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 $7.78

$6.06 $6.06

28.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.95 $1.95

59.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.51 $5.51

27.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.42 $7.42

$6.52 $6.52

13.80%

Potato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.49 $3.49

40.69%

Onion (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.29 $3.29

83.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.80 $2.80

-1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.58 $2.58

37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.95 $8.95

$12.49 $12.49

-28.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$14.87 $14.87

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$4.19 $4.19

-61.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.80 $5.80

-20.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$3.05 $3.05

-66.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 $29.70

$106 $106

-71.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.58 $2.58

165.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.64 $1.64

36.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.85 $14.85

$30.12 $30.12

-50.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.41 $1.41

-33.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K $29.7K

$36.8K $36.8K

-19.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$176 $176

$308 $308

-42.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.7 $51.7

$69.2 $69.2

-25.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$86.1 $86.1

-26.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.52 $35.52

$76.5 $76.5

-53.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 $15.77

$35.50 $35.50

-55.58%

Cinema Ticket

$11.79 $11.79

$18.02 $18.02

-34.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$2,746 $2,746

-53.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,829 $9,829

$30.6K $30.6K

-67.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 $38.64

$79.2 $79.2

-51.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.00 $31.00

$54.3 $54.3

-42.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$127 $127

-33.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 $95.5

$159 $159

-39.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$2,508 $2,508

-40.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 $1,001

$1,938 $1,938

-48.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,667 $2,667

$5,117 $5,117

-47.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,761 $1,761

$3,542 $3,542

-50.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,103 $5,103

$7,374 $7,374

-30.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,693 $2,693

$5,002 $5,002

-46.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,714 $3,714

$6,470 $6,470

-42.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

6.89

-3.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Winston-Salem, NC: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Winston-Salem, NC

$1K 41.2%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 93.6% $937

Groceries & Markets

Winston-Salem, NC

$578 23.8%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 5.3% $31

Eating Out

Winston-Salem, NC

$336 13.8%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 21% $71

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Winston-Salem, NC

$290 12%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 59.5% $173

Clothing & Footwear

Winston-Salem, NC

$112 4.6%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 68% $76

Sport & Entertainment

Winston-Salem, NC

$59 2.4%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 90.3% $53

Getting Around

Winston-Salem, NC

$52 2.1%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 149% $77

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,501 in Winston-Salem, NC and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 74% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $79 in Winston-Salem, NC vs $101 in Seattle, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $578 vs $547, with Seattle, WA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Winston-Salem, NC

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

09:39 9:39 AM

06:39 6:39 AM

3 h behind Winston-Salem, NC

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

241,218

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Winston-Salem, NC Seattle, WA 3,670 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Winston-Salem, NC
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Winston-Salem, NC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem, NC is about 36% cheaper overall, especially in transport, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Winston-Salem, NC. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,501 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Winston-Salem, NC – a meal for two runs $79 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $2,428 per month in Winston-Salem, NC versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA – Winston-Salem, NC is about 36% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

At $2,428 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Winston-Salem, NC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Winston-Salem, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Winston-Salem, NC wins on affordability, Seattle, WA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.