Providence-Warwick Winston-Salem

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 101.8 → 92.0
Rent Delta: -$567/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 10% lower cost of living
  • + $567/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $14K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Providence-Warwick to Winston-Salem shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 101.8 to 92.0 (100 = US average), so a Providence-Warwick salary needs to be multiplied by 0.90 to hold the same purchasing power in Winston-Salem. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,527/month in Providence-Warwick to $960/month in Winston-Salem - a lower monthly bill of $567, or $6,804/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $77,588 in Providence-Warwick versus $63,918 in Winston-Salem - a raw gap of $13,670 lower. The Winston-Salem labor market has 259,100 tracked jobs against 683,510 in Providence-Warwick, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Providence-Warwick and Winston-Salem are 155 and 365 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 13.8:1 at origin versus 15.8:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $15,433/year in Providence-Warwick versus $9,487/year in Winston-Salem. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Providence-Warwick
Winston-Salem
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 101.8
RPP 92.0
Winston-Salem
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,527/mo
$960/mo
Winston-Salem
💼 Wages
$77,588
$63,918
Providence-Warwick
🔒 Crime
155 per 100K
365 per 100K
Providence-Warwick
🎓 Schools
13.8:1
15.8:1
Providence-Warwick
👶 Childcare
$15,433/yr
$9,487/yr
Winston-Salem
🌿 Environment
186 violations
2788 violations
Providence-Warwick

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Providence-Warwick to see what you'd need to earn in Winston-Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Winston-Salem more expensive than Providence-Warwick?
Winston-Salem has an RPP of 92.0 compared to Providence-Warwick's 101.8 (100 = national average). Providence-Warwick is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Winston-Salem is $960/mo vs $1,527/mo in Providence-Warwick.
What are salaries like in Winston-Salem compared to Providence-Warwick?
The median salary in Winston-Salem is $63,918 compared to $77,588 in Providence-Warwick. That's a -$13,670 difference.
Is Winston-Salem safer than Providence-Warwick?
The violent crime rate near Winston-Salem is 365 per 100K vs 155 per 100K near Providence-Warwick (state-level data). Providence-Warwick has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Winston-Salem to match my Providence-Warwick salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Providence-Warwick salary by 0.90. For example, a $75,000 salary in Providence-Warwick would need to be $67,830 in Winston-Salem. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)