City Comparison

Fort Worth vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Worth

Texas
95
Below Average
$270,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$62,187
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

13.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 13.1%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fort Worth has equivalent purchasing power to $66,316 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
87
Fort Worth
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
96
Fort Worth
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
99
Fort Worth
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
106
Fort Worth
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
100
Fort Worth
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Worth has the same purchasing power as $66,316 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $84,821 in Fort Worth.

Living in Fort Worth vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Fort Worth's housing index of 87 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $270,000 vs $250,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Fort Worth compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Fort Worth and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Fort Worth 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 99 in Fort Worth and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Fort Worth vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Fort Worth 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 $62,187 in Fort Worth and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,460 and $62,619 respectively. Fort Worth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,451/month to housing in Fort Worth vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Fort Worth, median rent of $1,400/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 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 13.1% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Worth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,316 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Worth's housing index is 87 with median homes at $270,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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