City Comparison

Winston-Salem vs Yuma

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Winston-Salem

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

Yuma

Arizona
92
Below Average
$284,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$54,100
Median Income

The Verdict

8.7%

Winston-Salem is 8.7% less expensive than Yuma overall. A household earning $75,000 in Winston-Salem would need approximately $82,143 in Yuma to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
63
Winston-Salem
82
Yuma
Groceries
97
Winston-Salem
101
Yuma
Utilities
99
Winston-Salem
102
Yuma
Transportation
94
Winston-Salem
97
Yuma
Healthcare
103
Winston-Salem
87
Yuma

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Winston-Salem has the same purchasing power as $82,143 in Yuma.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $68,478 in Winston-Salem.

Living in Winston-Salem vs Yuma

Housing Costs

Winston-Salem's housing index of 63 is lower Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $284,000. The $34,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,208 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem compared to $1,100/mo in Yuma, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Winston-Salem and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Winston-Salem vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 99 in Winston-Salem and 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Winston-Salem vs $408 in Yuma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Winston-Salem and 87 in Yuma. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $52,600 in Winston-Salem and $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,619 and $58,804 respectively. Winston-Salem residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,227/month to housing in Winston-Salem vs $1,262/month in Yuma. In Winston-Salem, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/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 8.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Winston-Salem has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,143 in Yuma, based on the cost of living difference.
Winston-Salem's housing index is 63 with median homes at $250,000, while Yuma's is 82 with median homes at $284,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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