CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $77,100 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−20.0%
Albuquerque
89.2
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Albuquerque
96.1
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Albuquerque
103.5
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Albuquerque
93.6
Winston-Salem
93.3
⚡ Utilities+13.5%
Albuquerque
77.9
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Winston-Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9634. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Albuquerque has 20.0% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Albuquerque vs other cities

Albuquerque, NM
vs
Las Cruces, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 90.2
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 98.8
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Milwaukee, WI
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Baltimore, MD
Index: 95.5Index: 104.5
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Tucson, AZ
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9

Winston-Salem vs other cities

Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 92Index: 96.5
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 92Index: 98.2
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 92Index: 97.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Glendale, AZ
Index: 92Index: 103.3
Winston-Salem, NC
vs
Chesapeake, VA
Index: 92Index: 97.9

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.