City Comparison

Killeen vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

0.0%

Living in Killeen costs 0.0% less than Winston-Salem. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Killeen, you would need $75,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
96
Killeen
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
108
Killeen
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
95
Killeen
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
96
Killeen
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

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

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $75,000 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $250,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen 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 108 in Killeen and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Killeen 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 $56,400 in Killeen and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $62,619 respectively. Killeen residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Killeen, median rent of $975/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 Utilities, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 0.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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