City Comparison

Clarksville vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Clarksville

Tennessee
89
Below Average
$304,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$63,700
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%

The cost gap between these cities is 6.0%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Clarksville has equivalent purchasing power to $70,787 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
91
Clarksville
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
100
Clarksville
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
103
Clarksville
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
91
Clarksville
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
93
Clarksville
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clarksville has the same purchasing power as $70,787 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $79,464 in Clarksville.

Living in Clarksville vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Clarksville's housing index of 91 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $304,000 vs $250,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,225/mo in Clarksville compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Clarksville and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Clarksville 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 103 in Clarksville and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Clarksville vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Clarksville and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $63,700 in Clarksville and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,573 and $62,619 respectively. Clarksville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,486/month to housing in Clarksville vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Clarksville, median rent of $1,225/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 6.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 89.
A $75,000 salary in Clarksville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,787 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Clarksville's housing index is 91 with median homes at $304,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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