Lakewood vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lakewood
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Winston-Salem is 58.3% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lakewood would need approximately $47,368 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lakewood has the same purchasing power as $47,368 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $118,750 in Lakewood.
Living in Lakewood vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Lakewood's housing index of 188 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $574,000 vs $250,000. The $324,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Lakewood compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $800.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Lakewood and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Lakewood 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 85 in Lakewood and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $340 in Lakewood 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 84 in Lakewood and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $83,800 in Lakewood and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,008 and $62,619 respectively. Lakewood residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,955/month to housing in Lakewood vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/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 125 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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