City Comparison

Nampa vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Nampa

Idaho
105
Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$74,300
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

25.0%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 25.0% less than Nampa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Nampa, you would need $60,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
104
Nampa
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
105
Nampa
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
83
Nampa
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
113
Nampa
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
102
Nampa
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Nampa has the same purchasing power as $60,000 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $93,750 in Nampa.

Living in Nampa vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Nampa's housing index of 104 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $371,000 vs $250,000. The $121,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,860 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Nampa compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Nampa and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Nampa vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Nampa and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Nampa 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 102 in Nampa 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 $74,300 in Nampa and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $70,762 and $62,619 respectively. Nampa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,734/month to housing in Nampa vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/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 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 25.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Nampa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Nampa's housing index is 104 with median homes at $371,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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