City Comparison

Port St Lucie vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Port St Lucie

Florida
99
Average
$384,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$81,100
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

17.9%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 17.9% less than Port St Lucie. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Port St Lucie, you would need $63,636 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
103
Port St Lucie
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
102
Port St Lucie
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
93
Port St Lucie
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
102
Port St Lucie
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
96
Port St Lucie
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Port St Lucie has the same purchasing power as $63,636 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $88,393 in Port St Lucie.

Living in Port St Lucie vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Port St Lucie's housing index of 103 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $384,000 vs $250,000. The $134,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,712 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Port St Lucie and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Port St Lucie 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 93 in Port St Lucie and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Port St Lucie vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Port St Lucie 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 $81,100 in Port St Lucie and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $81,919 and $62,619 respectively. Port St Lucie residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,892/month to housing in Port St Lucie vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/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 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 17.9% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Port St Lucie has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,636 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Port St Lucie's housing index is 103 with median homes at $384,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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