City Comparison

Canton vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Canton

Ohio
79
Very Affordable
$120,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$41,500
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

6.0%

Living in Canton costs 6.0% less than Winston-Salem. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Canton, you would need $79,747 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
48
Canton
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
104
Canton
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
101
Canton
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
94
Canton
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
103
Canton
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $79,747 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $70,536 in Canton.

Living in Canton vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Canton's housing index of 48 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $250,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton 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 101 in Canton and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton 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 $41,500 in Canton and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 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 $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Canton, median rent of $775/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 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canton is 6.0% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Canton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,747 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Canton's housing index is 48 with median homes at $120,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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