City Comparison

Concord vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

California
147
Expensive
$680,000
Median Home
$2,350/mo
Median Rent
$109,000
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

75.0%

Winston-Salem is 75.0% less expensive than Concord overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $42,857 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
210
Concord
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
112
Concord
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
147
Concord
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
137
Concord
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
121
Concord
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $42,857 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $131,250 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 210 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $680,000 vs $250,000. The $430,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $1,300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Concord and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Concord vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 147 in Concord and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $588 in Concord vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 121 in Concord and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $109,000 in Concord and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,150 and $62,619 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,543/month to housing in Concord vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Concord, median rent of $2,350/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 147 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 75.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $42,857 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 210 with median homes at $680,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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