City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Ocala, FL are 3.5% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $103,500 in Ocala, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,172 a month in Ocala, FL versus $1,082 in Winston, NC. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Ocala, FL and 17% in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Winston, NC than in Ocala, FL.
- 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 Ocala, FL to Winston, NC changes real buying power by +3.5%, purely from prices.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (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
| Ocala, FL | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,649 in Winston | $103,467 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
80 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Ocala, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
58 Fair 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 Ocala, FL to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Winston, NC | Real change, Ocala → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $56,510 | $58,469 (+1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $124,130 | $128,433 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $78,950 | $81,687 (+9.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $86,120 | $89,106 (+12.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.