CostIndexUSA

Garden Grove, CA vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is significantly cheaper than Garden Grove — 19.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Garden Grove, you would need $64,800 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing58.1%
Garden Grove
170.4
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries9.4%
Garden Grove
106.6
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation5.9%
Garden Grove
109.6
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare5.9%
Garden Grove
99.1
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities44.3%
Garden Grove
158.6
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$64,800
$15,200 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8099. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Winston-Salem, NC

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

Garden Grove has 58.1% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

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).

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.