Cost of living index

Roanoke, VA

93.6 / 100

Living in Roanoke, VA is 6.4% cheaper than the US average — the #192 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $986/mo

Median home value: $236,300

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Roanoke, VA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
49° / 30°F
(9° / -1°C)
9.1 in precip
Spring
69° / 46°F
(21° / 8°C)
11.3 in precip
Summer
86° / 66°F
(30° / 19°C)
12.3 in precip
Fall
70° / 48°F
(21° / 9°C)
10.1 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from ROANOKE RGNL AP, via NOAA.

The Roanoke, VA metro area has an overall price level of 93.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 6.4% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 78.5 it is 21.5% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#192 of 387
93.6
Goods#116 of 387
96.8
Housing rents#196 of 387
78.5
Utilities#189 of 387
88.9
Other services#218 of 387
98.6

Roanoke, VA is moved down the most by housing rents, at 78.5 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

Browse Virginia →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Roanoke, VA an expensive place to live?

Roanoke, VA has an overall cost-of-living index of 93.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 6.4% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Roanoke, VA?

Housing rents in Roanoke, VA score 78.5 against a US average of 100 — roughly 21.5% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Roanoke, VA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Roanoke, VA sit at 93.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 78.5. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.