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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

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You'd save $169/month moving to St. Louis, MO

$150.0K in your current city equals $148.0K in St. Louis, MO

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from area
Overall Cost
โ†“ 2.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$169
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.0K
Per year

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

Winston-Salem, NC

Population:250K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$254K

St. Louis, MO

Population:302K
Cost Index:98
Median Home:$145K

Winston-Salem, NC

The Tar Heel State

250K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

St. Louis, MO

The Show-Me State

302K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 302K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Winston-Salem, NC vs St. Louis, MO

๐Ÿ Housing
โ†“ 12.2%
Winston-Salem, NC
$2,131
St. Louis, MO
$1,871
Difference
$260
less
๐ŸฅHealthcare
โ†“ 12.4%
Winston-Salem, NC
$601
St. Louis, MO
$527
Difference
$74.35
less
๐Ÿ“ฆOther
โ†‘ 2.1%
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,574
St. Louis, MO
$1,607
Difference
$33.48
more
โšกAll Utilities
โ†‘ 3.2%
Winston-Salem, NC
$519
St. Louis, MO
$535
Difference
$16.39
more
๐Ÿš—Transportation
โ†‘ 1.1%
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,202
St. Louis, MO
$1,216
Difference
$13.66
more
๐Ÿ›’Groceries
โ†“ 1.0%
Winston-Salem, NC
$959
St. Louis, MO
$949
Difference
$9.99
less

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Earnings Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)

Winston-Salem, NC has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,065
To$910
โ†“ $155
1 Bed
From$1,155
To$950
โ†“ $205
2 Bed
From$1,315
To$1,160
โ†“ $155
3 Bed
From$1,715
To$1,490
โ†“ $225
Winston-Salem, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $960โ€“$1,260/mo

St. Louis, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $800โ€“$1,480/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.

$6,986
Monthly in Winston-Salem, NC
$6,705
Monthly in St. Louis, MO
$281
Difference

Home Values

Winston-Salem
St. Louis
$254K
Median Value
$145K
โ†‘ +0.4%
YoY Change
โ†“ -0.8%
โ†‘ +37.2%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +10.9%
$168K - $363K
Price Range
$38K - $302K

Homes in St. Louis are 43% less expensive than Winston-Salem

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†“ $804
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$67.00
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.5%
Rate difference

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

St. Louis, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Winston-Salem, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

St. Louis, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

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

Winston-Salem
St. Louis
47 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
57.4%
Good Air Days
38%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒช๐Ÿ’จ
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐Ÿซจ
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
30 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
39 days
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
30 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
39 days

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

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