City Comparison

Roseville vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

65.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 65.5%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to $45,324 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
179
Roseville
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
105
Roseville
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
163
Roseville
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
134
Roseville
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
106
Roseville
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roseville has the same purchasing power as $45,324 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $124,107 in Roseville.

Living in Roseville vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Roseville's housing index of 179 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $625,000 vs $250,000. The $375,000 difference in home prices means roughly $24,372 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Roseville compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $950.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Roseville and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Roseville 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 163 in Roseville and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $652 in Roseville 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 106 in Roseville 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 $142,800 in Roseville and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $102,734 and $62,619 respectively. Roseville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,332/month to housing in Roseville vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/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 116 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 65.5% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $45,324 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Roseville's housing index is 179 with median homes at $625,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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