City comparison
Jackson, MS vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Winston, NC are 3.4% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $103,400 in Winston, NC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,268 a year in MS and $3,481 in 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 Jackson, MS to Winston, NC changes real buying power by −3.3%, purely from prices.
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Jackson, MS | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.0 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,363 in Winston | $96,746 in Jackson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,097/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,912 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,268 (MS) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $42,850 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Jackson, MS and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jackson | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.8 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 89.0 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jackson, MS → Winston, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
59 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
79 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
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 Jackson, MS to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jackson, MS | Winston, NC | Real change, Jackson → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jackson, MS | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Jackson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $90,460 | $129,980 | $125,751 (+39.0%) |
| Software Developers | $96,990 | $124,130 | $120,091 (+23.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,720 | $78,950 | $76,381 (+8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,630 | $86,120 | $83,318 (+0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.