CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is moderately cheaper than Palm Bay — 8.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $73,600 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.1%
Palm Bay
111.7
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Palm Bay
96.2
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Palm Bay
103.8
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Palm Bay
93.9
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Palm Bay
88.1
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9200. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Palm Bay has 36.1% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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).

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.