Cost of Living in Roanoke, VA
Roanoke, VA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Roanoke, VA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Roanoke, VA?
With a price level of 93.6 (U.S. average = 100), Roanoke, VA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 21% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Roanoke, VA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Housing | 78.5 | −21.5% |
| Goods | 96.8 | −3.2% |
| Utilities | 88.9 | −11.1% |
| Other services | 98.6 | −1.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Roanoke, VA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $963 | $38,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,020 | $40,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,200 | $48,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,668 | $66,720/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,013 | $80,520/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Roanoke, VA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Roanoke, VA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,400 | $30,895 |
| $60,000 | $56,200 | $44,919 |
| $80,000 | $74,900 | $58,030 |
| $100,000 | $93,600 | $70,110 |
| $150,000 | $140,400 | $99,971 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Virginia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Roanoke, VA's median wage of $47,140 takes home about $3,180 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,020, which is 32% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,160 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Roanoke, VA
- Federal income tax$3,477
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,923
- Medicare (1.45%)$684
- Virginia income tax$1,896
- Take-home pay$38,161
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Roanoke, VA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $98,140 | $73,043 | $78,022 |
| Registered Nurse | $80,090 | $61,382 | $65,567 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $56,430 | $45,091 | $48,165 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,180 | $37,444 | $39,997 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,500 | $36,937 | $39,455 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $44,900 | $36,490 | $38,977 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,960 | $32,058 | $34,244 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $34,890 | $29,022 | $31,000 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,440 | $25,702 | $27,454 |
| Cashier | $29,060 | $24,673 | $26,355 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,720 | $23,658 | $25,270 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Virginia cities
Half of Virginia’s 4,109,320 workers earn less than $55,690 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,720–$89,420 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Washington, DC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Harrisonburg, VA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $71,060 | 108.9 | $1,990 | 43% | $2,639 | $51,017 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 97.9 | $1,508 | 45% | $1,814 | $40,707 |
| Richmond, VA | $51,460 | 97.9 | $1,505 | 44% | $1,944 | $42,289 |
| Roanoke, VA | $47,140 | 93.6 | $1,020 | 32% | $2,160 | $40,762 |
| Kingsport, TN | $45,240 | 86.4 | $818 | 27% | $2,244 | $42,504 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $55,180 | 99.1 | $1,602 | 44% | $2,078 | $44,539 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $46,190 | 89.4 | $1,033 | 33% | $2,088 | $41,910 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $48,120 | 92.7 | $942 | 29% | $2,299 | $41,950 |
| Winchester, VA | $47,070 | 96.5 | $1,255 | 40% | $1,921 | $39,511 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $46,110 | 94.9 | $1,057 | 34% | $2,059 | $39,405 |
| Staunton, VA | $48,040 | 91.1 | $1,095 | 34% | $2,141 | $42,613 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Roanoke, VA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 93.6 | $1,020 | $47,140 | 153,980 |
| Hickory, NC | 88.5 | $908 | $45,220 | 154,090 |
| Gainesville, FL | 96.7 | $1,193 | $47,020 | 152,670 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $982 | $46,660 | 150,580 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $866 | $36,490 | 157,450 |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Roanoke, VA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Roanoke, VA metro area are 93.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 78.5%. It is the #192 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Roanoke, VA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,171 in Roanoke, VA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,140.
Can you afford Roanoke, VA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,140 median wage takes home about $3,180 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,020 would take 32% of that.
How much is rent in Roanoke, VA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Roanoke, VA are $963 for a studio, $1,020 for one bedroom, $1,200 for two bedrooms and $1,668 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Roanoke, VA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $98,140
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,090
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $38,960
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,440
- Cashier — $29,060
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $45,500
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,900
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,430
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,180
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,890