City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Winston Salem is the real story here. Winston Salem comes in 44% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,087), which over a year adds up to $10,152. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Los Angeles is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Winston Salem makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Los Angeles is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Winston Salem are 2,140 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $846 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $22,671 (28%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 203 in Winston Salem, up 45 points (28%).
The move
Winston Salem and Los Angeles are 2,140 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $846 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $22,671 (38%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 158 in Los Angeles, down 45 points (22%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 44% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Winston Salem is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $846/month back in your pocket ($10,152/year). Over five years that's $50,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Winston Salem is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 38% higher than Winston Salem
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Los Angeles (about $22,671 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Los Angeles is the stronger labor market on paper. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 22% lower than Winston Salem
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Los Angeles. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Los Angeles is the easier city. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 28% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Winston Salem if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 38% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Winston Salem (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Winston Salem undercuts Los Angeles by $846/month ($1,087 vs $1,933). I would not pick Los Angeles on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Los Angeles vs 38/100 in Winston Salem), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Winston Salem; Los Angeles only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Los Angeles at $81,939 income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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