City Comparison

Racine vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Racine

Wisconsin
88
Below Average
$126,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$57,700
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

4.8%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 4.8% less than Racine. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Racine, you would need $71,591 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
66
Racine
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
97
Racine
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
94
Racine
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
90
Racine
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
111
Racine
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Racine has the same purchasing power as $71,591 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $78,571 in Racine.

Living in Racine vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Racine's housing index of 66 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $126,000 vs $250,000. The $124,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,064 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Racine compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Racine and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Racine 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 94 in Racine and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Racine vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 111 in Racine 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 $57,700 in Racine and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,568 and $62,619 respectively. Racine residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,346/month to housing in Racine vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Racine, median rent of $1,025/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 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 4.8% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Racine has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,591 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Racine's housing index is 66 with median homes at $126,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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