CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is slightly cheaper than Missoula — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $76,400 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.8%
Missoula
94.9
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Missoula
96
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Missoula
103.7
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Missoula
93.8
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+22.6%
Missoula
72.1
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.9544. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Missoula has 24.8% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

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).

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

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.