City Comparison

Henderson vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Henderson

Nevada
108
Above Average
$420,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$72,238
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 Henderson. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Henderson, you would need $58,333 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
118
Henderson
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
102
Henderson
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
94
Henderson
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
107
Henderson
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
96
Henderson
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Henderson vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Henderson's housing index of 118 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $250,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Henderson compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Henderson and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Henderson 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 94 in Henderson and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Henderson vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Henderson 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 $72,238 in Henderson and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,887 and $62,619 respectively. Henderson residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,686/month to housing in Henderson vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Henderson, median rent of $1,500/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 55 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 Henderson has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,333 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Henderson's housing index is 118 with median homes at $420,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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