City Comparison

Bangor vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bangor

Maine
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$52,500
Median Income

Winston-Salem

North Carolina
84
Very Affordable
$250,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$52,600
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 2.4% less than Bangor. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bangor, you would need $73,256 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
83
Bangor
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
104
Bangor
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
108
Bangor
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
111
Bangor
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
104
Bangor
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bangor has the same purchasing power as $73,256 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $76,786 in Bangor.

Living in Bangor vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Bangor's housing index of 83 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $250,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Bangor compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Bangor and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Bangor vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Bangor and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Bangor vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Bangor and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $52,500 in Bangor and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,047 and $62,619 respectively. Winston-Salem residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,225/month to housing in Bangor vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Bangor, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Winston-Salem, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Bangor has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,256 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Bangor's housing index is 83 with median homes at $235,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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