CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostTN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.8%
Chattanooga
76.6
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Chattanooga
96
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Chattanooga
100.1
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.1%
Chattanooga
90.5
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+19.1%
Chattanooga
74.2
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Chattanooga 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 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0055. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Chattanooga has 6.8% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.