CostIndexUSA

Santa Fe, NM vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is moderately cheaper than Santa Fe — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $74,500 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.9%
Santa Fe
108
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Santa Fe
96.1
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Santa Fe
103.5
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Santa Fe
93.6
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+15.3%
Santa Fe
76.7
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$74,500
$5,500 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 98.8) = salary × 0.9312. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Santa Fe, NM

Median Home Price
$541,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
108
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Santa Fe has 33.9% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Santa Fe, NM

Median Household Income
$78,700
Per Capita Income
$44,900
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
84,683
Top Industries
GovernmentTourismArtsHealthcareEducation

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).

Santa Fe, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.