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 93, 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 #39 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Winston-Salem ranks as the #120 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Winston-Salem, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Winston-Salem is 99.
The Groceries index in Winston-Salem is 100.
The Health index in Winston-Salem is 83.
The Housing index in Winston-Salem is 100.
The Transportation index in Winston-Salem is 97.
The Utilities index in Winston-Salem is 96.
| Living Expense | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 83 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Winston-Salem Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Winston-Salem is $264,332.
The Median Rent in Winston-Salem is $1,087.
The Median Income in Winston-Salem is $59,268.
The Home Value To Income in Winston-Salem is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Winston-Salem is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $264,332 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,087 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,268 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Winston-Salem, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Winston-Salem Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.58 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Winston-Salem Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.81 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.34 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.17 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Winston-Salem Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.28 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.56 | $113.29 |
Detailed Winston-Salem Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Winston-Salem Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Winston-Salem SnackAbility
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 96, 1.0x Winston-Salem.
Kernersville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Winston-Salem.
Thomasville, NC has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Winston-Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Winston-Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point, NC | 116,245 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Kernersville, NC | 27,830 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Thomasville, NC | 27,321 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Clemmons, NC | 21,871 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Lewisville, NC | 13,828 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Oak Ridge, NC | 7,744 | 136 | 1.5x |
| King, NC | 7,408 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Stokesdale, NC | 6,004 | 108 | 1.2x |
