Winston-Salem, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Winston-Salem, NC Summary

Cost of living in Winston-Salem research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Winston-Salem is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Winston-Salem is 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Winston-Salem is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Winston-Salem ranks as the #67 cheapest in North Carolina out of 153.

  • Winston-Salem ranks as the #2,290 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Winston-Salem is $158,600.

  • The median income in Winston-Salem is $50,204.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Winston-Salem's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Winston-Salem has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Winston-Salem has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.

The standard of living in Winston-Salem ranks as #67 most affordable out of the 153 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Winston-Salem ranks as the #86 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Winston-Salem, check out:

67 out of 153
In North Carolina
2,290 out of 6,412
In America

Winston-Salem Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Winston-Salem. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Winston-Salem is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Winston-Salem is 100.

  • The Health index in Winston-Salem is 119.

  • The Housing index in Winston-Salem is 78.

  • The Transportation index in Winston-Salem is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Winston-Salem is 92.

Living Expense Winston-Salem North Carolina National Average
Overall 94 95 100
Services 100 97 100
Groceries 100 98 100
Health 119 108 100
Housing 78 91 100
Transportation 101 92 100
Utilities 92 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Winston-Salem Cost of Living Vs. NC

Winston-Salem, NC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Winston-Salem is $158,600.

  • The Median Rent in Winston-Salem is $871.

  • The Median Income in Winston-Salem is $50,204.

  • The Home Value To Income in Winston-Salem is 3.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Winston-Salem is 0.21x.

Statistic Winston-Salem North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $158,600 $197,500 $244,900
Median Rent $871 $988 $1,163
Median Income $50,204 $60,516 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.2x 3.3x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Winston-Salem, NC
$158,600
Median Home Value
$871
Median Rent
$50,204
Median Income

Winston-Salem, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Winston-Salem Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Winston-Salem North Carolina
Shampoo $1.29 $1.06
Movie $8.5 $10.68
Bowling $16.67 $14.67
Haircut $22.99 $18.62
Beauty Salon $35.48 $39.05

Detailed Winston-Salem Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Winston-Salem North Carolina
Ground Beef $4.93 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.27 $1.39
Milk $1.55 $2.05
Potatoes $3.43 $3.29
Pizza $10.32 $10.62
Beer $9.95 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.63 $2.34

Detailed Winston-Salem Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Winston-Salem North Carolina
Optometrist $109.7 $108.57
Doctor $124.74 $116.17
Dentist $139.81 $99.13

Detailed Winston-Salem Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Winston-Salem North Carolina
Gasoline $2.12 $2.22
Tire Balancing $53.98 $50.07

Detailed Winston-Salem Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Winston-Salem North Carolina
All Electricity $158.18 $167.67
Phone $169.63 $175.64

Winston-Salem SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
7
Affordability
6
Diversity
9.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Winston-Salem

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Winston-Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • High Point, NC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Winston-Salem.

  • Thomasville, NC has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Winston-Salem.

  • Kernersville, NC has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Winston-Salem.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Winston-Salem
High Point, NC 113,148 93 1.0x
Thomasville, NC 26,941 87 0.9x
Kernersville, NC 26,376 97 1.0x
Clemmons, NC 21,032 101 1.1x
Jamestown, ND 15,823 91 1.0x
Lewisville, NC 13,413 97 1.0x
Oak Ridge, NC 7,461 117 1.2x
King, NC 7,258 91 1.0x
Stokesdale, NC 5,895 101 1.1x

Articles About North Carolina

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