Last updated 2026-06-15 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Below the national average, an affordable Piedmont Triad city.
Cost of living index (US avg = 100): 90
Median 2BR rent: $1,300/mo
Housing: 80 vs 100
Groceries: 96 vs 100
Utilities: 102 vs 100
Transportation: 95 vs 100
Healthcare: 96 vs 100
Winston-Salem offers a tobacco and arts heritage, affordable craftsman housing, and a quieter pace than Charlotte or Raleigh. Low housing costs are the main draw.