Cranston vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Winston-Salem is 29.8% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $57,798 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cranston has the same purchasing power as $57,798 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $97,321 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $250,000. The $145,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 113 in Cranston and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston 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 110 in Cranston 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 $90,200 in Cranston and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $62,619 respectively. Cranston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,105/month to housing in Cranston vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Cranston, 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 72 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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