CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Birmingham and Winston-Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−0.7%
Birmingham
71.9
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Birmingham
96.4
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Birmingham
101.5
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Birmingham
91.9
Winston-Salem
93.3
⚡ Utilities+5.5%
Birmingham
83.8
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$80,400
$400 more needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0044. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Birmingham has 0.7% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

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).

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

Birmingham vs other cities

Birmingham, AL
vs
Huntsville, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 93.1
Birmingham, AL
vs
Mobile, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 88.1
Birmingham, AL
vs
Montgomery, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 89.7
Birmingham, AL
vs
Yonkers, NY
Index: 91.6Index: 112.6
Birmingham, AL
vs
Rochester, NY
Index: 91.6Index: 97

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.