City Comparison

Rock Hill vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Rock Hill

South Carolina
100
Average
$305,000
Median Home
$1,125/mo
Median Rent
$65,800
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

19.0%

Living in Winston-Salem costs 19.0% less than Rock Hill. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Rock Hill, you would need $63,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
79
Rock Hill
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
105
Rock Hill
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
94
Rock Hill
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
103
Rock Hill
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
106
Rock Hill
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Rock Hill has the same purchasing power as $63,000 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $89,286 in Rock Hill.

Living in Rock Hill vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Rock Hill's housing index of 79 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $305,000 vs $250,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,125/mo in Rock Hill compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Rock Hill and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Rock Hill 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 94 in Rock Hill and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Rock Hill vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Rock Hill 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 $65,800 in Rock Hill and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,800 and $62,619 respectively. Rock Hill residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,535/month to housing in Rock Hill vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Rock Hill, median rent of $1,125/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Rock Hill has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Rock Hill's housing index is 79 with median homes at $305,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases