City Comparison

Peoria vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Arizona
113
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$97,300
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

34.5%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 34.5% less than Peoria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Peoria, you would need $55,752 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
149
Peoria
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
98
Peoria
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
106
Peoria
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
95
Peoria
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
86
Peoria
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $55,752 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $100,893 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 149 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $495,000 vs $250,000. The $245,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,924 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Peoria compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Peoria and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Peoria 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 106 in Peoria and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Peoria vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 86 in Peoria and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $97,300 in Peoria and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,106 and $62,619 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,270/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/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 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 34.5% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,752 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 149 with median homes at $495,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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