City Comparison

Bellevue vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bellevue

Washington
158
Very Expensive
$1.3M
Median Home
$2,525/mo
Median Rent
$169,200
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

88.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 88.1%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Bellevue has equivalent purchasing power to $39,873 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
249
Bellevue
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
111
Bellevue
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
100
Bellevue
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
134
Bellevue
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
120
Bellevue
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $39,873 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $141,071 in Bellevue.

Living in Bellevue vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $250,000. The $1.1M difference in home prices means roughly $68,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $1,475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $792/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $62,619 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/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 186 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 88.1% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 158.
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $39,873 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Bellevue's housing index is 249 with median homes at $1.3M, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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