City Comparison

Beaumont vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

7.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.1%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $80,769 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
96
Beaumont
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
102
Beaumont
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
93
Beaumont
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $80,769 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $69,643 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $250,000. The $84,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,460 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont 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 $57,000 in Beaumont and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $62,619 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Beaumont, 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 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 7.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,769 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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