($1,426) Movers From Houston, TX to Winston-Salem, NC

What to know before moving from Houston to Winston-Salem

Moving from Houston to Winston-Salem means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Houston than in Winston-Salem, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Houston compares to Winston-Salem so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Winston-Salem are 16% lower than in Houston, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Winston-Salem.
  Home prices in Winston-Salem are 5.7% lower than in Houston.
• Income in Winston-Salem is 10.6% lower than in Houston, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Winston-Salem include Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Health, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
• The cost of living for a single person in Winston-Salem is 12.6% lower than in Houston. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Winston-Salem is 26.4% lower than in Houston.
• The unemployment rate in Winston-Salem is 26.83% higher than in Houston.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Winston-Salem, since the city’s sales taxes in Winston-Salem are 15.15% lower than in Houston.
• State income taxes in Winston-Salem are 4.50% higher than in Houston.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,620.94 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Houston.

How life is different in Houston vs. Winston-Salem

• Winston-Salem might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 89% less than Houston.
• Getting around Winston-Salem without a car might be more difficult than in Houston. Winston-Salem has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Houston is ranked 5. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Winston-Salem neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Houston. Based on its score of 22 out of 100, Winston-Salem isn’t as walkable as Houston, which has a score of 47 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Winston-Salem, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Houston. While Houston has a bike-friendliness score of 49 out of 100, Winston-Salem earned a 29. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• Winston-Salem has a lower crime rate than Houston based on scores of 32.67 and Houston's 63.5, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Winston-Salem than in Houston, based on Winston-Salem’s safety index of 67.33 versus 36.5 for Houston. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Winston-Salem and Houston is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Houston vs. Winston-Salem move

• Weather: Climate in Winston-Salem is unlikely to affect your move but a freezing day in the winter could affect the conditions of the roads.
• HOA rules: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• State licensing: For-profit household goods carriers in the state fall under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Transportation Division. All legitimate movers should have a “C Number” issued by the commission, signifying that they’ve met minimum insurance requirements and adhere to the provisions outlined in the state’s Maximum Rate Tariff (MRT). Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in North Carolina, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While North Carolina doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Winston-Salem without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. Choose Released Value Protection for no-cost, minimal coverage from movers, with responsibility limited to 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, explore alternatives with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in Winston-Salem

With your sights set on "Camel City", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Winston-Salem.

Helpful moving resources