2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rochester, NY vs Winston-Salem, NC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Winston-Salem or is it cheaper to live in Rochester?
- Winston-Salem is 4.9% less expensive than Rochester.

Which city has more affordable housing, Winston-Salem or Rochester?
- Winston-Salem housing costs are 39.5% more expensive than Rochester housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rochester or is Health Care more affordable in Winston-Salem.
- Health related expenses are 10.2% less in Winston-Salem.
 Rochester, NYWinston-Salem, NCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock84.3100
 Food & Groceries97.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.4100
 Housing44.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$229,400$338,100
 Utilities103  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock75.5100
 Miscellaneous148.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Rochester    79 Reviews

Stay out of the rougher patches, and you'll find a pretty solid city. I live within close proximity to it, and the crime from it DOES rub off on us (auto theft), but  More

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Rochester isn't perfect (I'll detail pros and cons), but it's certainly perfect for me and my husband. We've lived here for 4 years and are getting ready to purchase our  More

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Rochester is a scenic city with so much to offer in terms of things to do and having 4 seasons, except the summer is more like a long spring!! It's a relatively unknown  More

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Reviews for Winston-Salem    26 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

Winston Salem is a corrupt and sad city. Many residents aren't open to new comers and crime is rampant. The abysmal crime rate is due in part to the corrupt and  More

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Over 5 years ago

I’ve lived here since 2008 and the community is beautiful and quiet. Convenient to everything and if you’re not a lazy person you can walk to Walmart, the bank,  More

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I didn't fully appreciate WS until I left. I still have family and friends there, and when I visit (I've lived in various places, now in the midwest for about 20 years)  More

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