Montgomery vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Montgomery
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Montgomery is 6.0% less expensive than Winston-Salem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $79,747 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 Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $79,747 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $70,536 in Montgomery.
Living in Montgomery vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $250,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery 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 115 in Montgomery and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery 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 78 in Montgomery and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,800 in Montgomery and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $62,619 respectively. Montgomery residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,325/month to housing in Montgomery vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/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 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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