City Comparison

St Cloud vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

7.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.1%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in St Cloud has equivalent purchasing power to $70,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
St Cloud
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
101
St Cloud
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
95
St Cloud
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
99
St Cloud
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
100
St Cloud
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in St Cloud has the same purchasing power as $70,000 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $80,357 in St Cloud.

Living in St Cloud vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

St Cloud's housing index of 82 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $250,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St Cloud compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in St Cloud and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in St Cloud 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 95 in St Cloud and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St Cloud vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in St Cloud 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 $60,200 in St Cloud and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,889 and $62,619 respectively. St Cloud residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,405/month to housing in St Cloud vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/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 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 7.1% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in St Cloud has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
St Cloud's housing index is 82 with median homes at $250,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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