City Comparison

Toledo vs Winston-Salem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

Winston-Salem

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

The Verdict

8.3%

Living in Toledo costs 8.3% less than Winston-Salem. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Toledo, you would need $81,818 in Winston-Salem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Toledo
63
Winston-Salem
Groceries
98
Toledo
97
Winston-Salem
Utilities
92
Toledo
99
Winston-Salem
Transportation
101
Toledo
94
Winston-Salem
Healthcare
84
Toledo
103
Winston-Salem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Toledo has the same purchasing power as $81,818 in Winston-Salem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $68,750 in Toledo.

Living in Toledo vs Winston-Salem

Housing Costs

Toledo's housing index of 55 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $128,000 vs $250,000. The $122,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,932 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $825/mo in Toledo compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Toledo and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Toledo 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 92 in Toledo and 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Toledo vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 84 in Toledo and 103 in Winston-Salem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $42,200 in Toledo and $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,805 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 $985/month to housing in Toledo vs $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Toledo, median rent of $825/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 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 8.3% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Toledo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,818 in Winston-Salem, based on the cost of living difference.
Toledo's housing index is 55 with median homes at $128,000, while Winston-Salem's is 63 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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