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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Data: HUD rent estimates, BLS cost of living

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You'd save $1.0K/month moving to Winston-Salem, NC

$150.0K in your current city equals $137.8K in Winston-Salem, NC

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL area
Overall Cost
โ†“ 13.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,019
Savings
Annual Impact
$12.2K
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

St. Petersburg, FL

Population:264K
Cost Index:
100
100 = national average
Median Home:$333K

Winston-Salem, NC

Population:250K
Cost Index:
86
(14% below avg)
Median Home:$254K

St. Petersburg, FL

The Sunshine State

264K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 264K residents.

๐Ÿ’ก Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Winston-Salem, NC

The Tar Heel State

250K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 250K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: St. Petersburg, FL vs Winston-Salem, NC

Housing
โ†“ 21.2%
St. Petersburg, FL
$2,703
Winston-Salem, NC
$2,131
Difference
$572
less
Other
โ†“ 13.0%
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,808
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,574
Difference
$234
less
Transportation
โ†“ 6.4%
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,284
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,202
Difference
$81.96
less
Groceries
โ†“ 5.9%
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,019
Winston-Salem, NC
$959
Difference
$59.96
less
All Utilities
โ†“ 9.5%
St. Petersburg, FL
$574
Winston-Salem, NC
$519
Difference
$54.64
less
Healthcare
โ†‘ 5.4%
St. Petersburg, FL
$570
Winston-Salem, NC
$601
Difference
$30.98
more

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,640
To$1,065
โ†“ $575
1 Bed
From$1,750
To$1,155
โ†“ $595
2 Bed
From$2,040
To$1,315
โ†“ $725
3 Bed
From$2,610
To$1,715
โ†“ $895
St. Petersburg, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,420โ€“$2,500/mo

Winston-Salem, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $960โ€“$1,260/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,958
Monthly in St. Petersburg, FL
$6,986
Monthly in Winston-Salem, NC
$972
Difference

Home Values

St. Petersburg
Winston-Salem
$333K
Median Value
$254K
โ†“ -7.3%
YoY Change
โ†‘ +0.4%
โ†‘ +29%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +37.2%
$162K - $712K
Price Range
$168K - $363K

Homes in Winston-Salem are 24% less expensive than St. Petersburg

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†“ $7.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$594
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

St. Petersburg, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Winston-Salem, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

St. Petersburg, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

Winston-Salem, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

St. Petersburg
Winston-Salem
50 Good
Air Quality
47 Good
52.5%
Good Air Days
57.4%
99 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒ…๐ŸŒ€
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒช๐Ÿ’จ
โ–ฒ+2.2ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
38 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
30 days
โ–ฒ+2.2ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
38 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
30 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Florida and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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