City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Roanoke | Virginia Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $917/mo | $1,568/mo | 41.5% lower in A |
| Median home value | $162,000 | $343,700 | 52.9% lower in A |
| Median household income | $51,523 | $87,544 | 41.1% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 98.7 | 98.7 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 94.8 | 94.8 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 100.5 | 100.5 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 94.8 | 94.8 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Roanoke, you'd need $170,990 in Virginia Beach to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Roanoke, VA is about 41.5% cheaper overall than Virginia Beach, VA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 42% lower in Roanoke than in Virginia Beach. If you earn $80,000 in Roanoke, you'd need about $136,792 in Virginia Beach to keep the same standard of living.