City Comparison

Fishers vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

26.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 26.2%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to $59,434 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Fishers
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
99
Fishers
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
100
Fishers
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
102
Fishers
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
99
Fishers
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $59,434 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $94,643 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $250,000. The $141,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,168 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers 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 100 in Fishers and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers 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 $130,200 in Fishers and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $62,619 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/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 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 26.2% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $59,434 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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