City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 10.3% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $110,300 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,082 in Winston, NC. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 17% in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,439 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Winston, NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to Winston, NC changes real buying power by +10.3%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Winston, NC: price level 92.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,622 in Winston | $110,348 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,439/yr.
100 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,439/yr.
39 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Winston, NC | Real change, Eugene → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +10.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +10.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +10.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +10.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +10.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $56,510 | $62,358 (−3.0%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $124,130 | $136,975 (+13.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $78,950 | $87,120 (+9.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $86,120 | $95,032 (−16.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.