City Comparison

Gilbert vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gilbert

Arizona
111
Above Average
$470,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$94,518
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

32.1%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 32.1% less than Gilbert. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gilbert, you would need $56,757 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
128
Gilbert
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
100
Gilbert
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
96
Gilbert
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
103
Gilbert
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
95
Gilbert
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gilbert has the same purchasing power as $56,757 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $99,107 in Gilbert.

Living in Gilbert vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Gilbert's housing index of 128 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $250,000. The $220,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,304 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Gilbert compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Gilbert and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Gilbert 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 96 in Gilbert and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gilbert vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Gilbert 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 $94,518 in Gilbert and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,151 and $62,619 respectively. Gilbert residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,205/month to housing in Gilbert vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Gilbert, median rent of $1,700/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 65 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 32.1% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 111.
A $75,000 salary in Gilbert has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $56,757 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Gilbert's housing index is 128 with median homes at $470,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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