City Comparison

Chandler vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Chandler

Arizona
110
Above Average
$450,000
Median Home
$1,650/mo
Median Rent
$88,234
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

31.0%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 31.0% less than Chandler. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Chandler, you would need $57,273 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
126
Chandler
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
100
Chandler
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
96
Chandler
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
103
Chandler
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
95
Chandler
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Chandler has the same purchasing power as $57,273 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $98,214 in Chandler.

Living in Chandler vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Chandler's housing index of 126 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $450,000 vs $250,000. The $200,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,996 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,650/mo in Chandler compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Chandler and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Chandler 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 96 in Chandler and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Chandler vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Chandler 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 $88,234 in Chandler and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,213 and $62,619 respectively. Chandler residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,059/month to housing in Chandler vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Chandler, median rent of $1,650/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 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 31.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Chandler has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $57,273 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Chandler's housing index is 126 with median homes at $450,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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