Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is about 10% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 90 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,529 a month, 21% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 44% of the area's $65,541 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,529
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.50
Combo meal
Electricity
14.95¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$116/mo
$1,392/yr
Median Household Income
$65,541
43.9% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,392 in Winston-Salem. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,529/mo in Winston-Salem. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.29 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$2.69 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$2.49 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$6.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.29 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$2.69 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$2.49 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$6.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.50
Casual Dining
$27.00
Monthly Spend
$312
+5.2% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $7.20
$12.00
+66.7%Wendy's
2022: $8.10
$12.90
+59.3%Chipotle
2022: $8.70
$13.20
+51.7%Starbucks
2022: $4.30
$6.45
+50.0%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Winston-Salem?
Average 1BR: $1,254/mo · 2BR: $1,804/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
193k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,274
$66k/yr
Top Sector
Education & Health Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$66k
household median
Employment by Sector — Winston-Salem
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$80k/yr
~$50k/yr
~$77k/yr
~$25k/yr
~$78k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 37067
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$2,005/wk · $104k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$476/wk · $25k/yr
Winston-Salem Cost of Living FAQ
Is Winston-Salem, NC expensive to live in?
Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 90, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 10% cheaper than average. It is the 2nd most affordable of the 22 North Carolina cities we track.
What is the average rent in Winston-Salem, NC?
Typical rent in Winston-Salem is $1,529 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 21% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,254 and two bedrooms about $1,804. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Winston-Salem?
Rent in Winston-Salem rose 4.6% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Winston-Salem?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.23 a gallon in Winston-Salem as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for North Carolina. That is 19% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Winston-Salem?
Homes in North Carolina pay an average of 14.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Winston-Salem is about $135.
How much is car insurance in Winston-Salem?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,392 a year in North Carolina, or about $116 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Winston-Salem?
Median household income in the Winston-Salem area is $65,541 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $28,798 a year, or 44% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Winston-Salem compare with the rest of North Carolina?
Rent in Winston-Salem is about the same as the $1,524 average across the 22 North Carolina cities we track, and its cost of living index of 90 compares with a state average of 95.
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