Laredo vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Laredo
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Laredo is 2.4% less expensive than Winston-Salem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Laredo would need approximately $76,829 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 Laredo has the same purchasing power as $76,829 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $73,214 in Laredo.
Living in Laredo vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Laredo's housing index of 81 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $190,000 vs $250,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Laredo compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 91 in Laredo and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Laredo vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Laredo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Laredo and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Laredo vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 77 in Laredo and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $63,900 in Laredo and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,927 and $62,619 respectively. Laredo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,491/month to housing in Laredo vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Laredo, median rent of $1,075/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases