City Comparison

Sydney vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sydney

Australia
105
Average
$825,000
Median Home
$2,050/mo
Median Rent
$60,000
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

25.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 25.0%, with Winston-Salem being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Sydney has equivalent purchasing power to $60,000 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
142
Sydney
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
95
Sydney
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
98
Sydney
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
108
Sydney
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
72
Sydney
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sydney has the same purchasing power as $60,000 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $93,750 in Sydney.

Living in Sydney vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Sydney's housing index of 142 is higher Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $825,000 vs $250,000. The $575,000 difference in home prices means roughly $37,380 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,050/mo in Sydney compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $1,000.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Sydney and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Sydney 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 98 in Sydney and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Sydney vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 72 in Sydney and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 31-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $60,000 in Sydney and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,143 and $62,619 respectively. Winston-Salem residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,400/month to housing in Sydney vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Sydney, median rent of $2,050/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 79 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is 25.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Sydney has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,000 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Sydney's housing index is 142 with median homes at $825,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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