City Comparison

Denton vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Denton

Texas
108
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$73,700
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

28.6%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 28.6% less than Denton. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Denton, you would need $58,333 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
126
Denton
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
98
Denton
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
90
Denton
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
87
Denton
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
81
Denton
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Denton has the same purchasing power as $58,333 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $96,429 in Denton.

Living in Denton vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Denton's housing index of 126 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $250,000. The $135,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,425/mo in Denton compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Denton and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Denton 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 90 in Denton and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Denton vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 81 in Denton and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,700 in Denton and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,241 and $62,619 respectively. Denton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,720/month to housing in Denton vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Denton, median rent of $1,425/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 28.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 108.
A $75,000 salary in Denton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,333 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Denton's housing index is 126 with median homes at $385,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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