City Comparison

Juneau vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

51.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 51.2%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to $49,606 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Juneau
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
123
Juneau
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
140
Juneau
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
125
Juneau
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
151
Juneau
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $49,606 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $113,393 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $250,000. The $274,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,808 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1476/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 48-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $62,619 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Juneau, 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 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 51.2% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,606 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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