City Comparison

Concord vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

New Hampshire
100
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$84,900
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

19.0%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 19.0% less than Concord. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Concord, you would need $63,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
110
Concord
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
101
Concord
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
110
Concord
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
93
Concord
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
113
Concord
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $63,000 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $89,286 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 110 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $250,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Concord compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Concord and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Concord 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 110 in Concord and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 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 113 in Concord 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 $84,900 in Concord and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $84,900 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 $1,981/month to housing in Concord vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Concord, median rent of $1,375/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 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 110 with median homes at $340,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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