Roanoke Rapids, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Roanoke Rapids, NC Summary

Cost of living in Roanoke Rapids research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Roanoke Rapids is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Roanoke Rapids is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Roanoke Rapids is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Roanoke Rapids ranks as the #13 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Roanoke Rapids ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Roanoke Rapids is $116,810.

  • The median income in Roanoke Rapids is $53,981.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Roanoke Rapids's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Roanoke Rapids has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Roanoke Rapids has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Roanoke Rapids ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Roanoke Rapids ranks as the #144 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Roanoke Rapids, check out:

13 out of 157
In North Carolina
639 out of 6,489
In America

Roanoke Rapids Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Roanoke Rapids. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Roanoke Rapids is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Roanoke Rapids is 100.

  • The Health index in Roanoke Rapids is 112.

  • The Housing index in Roanoke Rapids is 63.

  • The Transportation index in Roanoke Rapids is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Roanoke Rapids is 97.

Living Expense Roanoke Rapids North Carolina National Average
Overall 86 92 100
Services 101 100 100
Groceries 100 99 100
Health 112 106 100
Housing 63 86 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 97 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Roanoke Rapids Cost of Living Vs. NC

Roanoke Rapids, NC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Roanoke Rapids is $116,810.

  • The Median Rent in Roanoke Rapids is $816.

  • The Median Income in Roanoke Rapids is $53,981.

  • The Home Value To Income in Roanoke Rapids is 2.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Roanoke Rapids is 0.18x.

Statistic Roanoke Rapids North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $116,810 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $816 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $53,981 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.2x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.2x 0.21x
$116,810
Median Home Value
$816
Median Rent
$53,981
Median Income

Roanoke Rapids, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Roanoke Rapids Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
Shampoo $1.09 $1.28
Movie $10.27 $12.13
Bowling $11.0 $18
Haircut $19.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $29.58 $45.56

Detailed Roanoke Rapids Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
Ground Beef $5.93 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.59 $1.57
Milk $4.57 $4.67
Potatoes $5.18 $4.93
Pizza $10.47 $12.09
Beer $10.29 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.65 $3.7

Detailed Roanoke Rapids Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
Optometrist $141.56 $125.68
Doctor $136.38 $135.78
Dentist $100.17 $113.29

Detailed Roanoke Rapids Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
Gasoline $3.45 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.55 $59.92

Detailed Roanoke Rapids Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
All Electricity $201.14 $193.99
Phone $187.32 $192.25

Roanoke Rapids SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
5
Affordability
7
Diversity
9
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Roanoke Rapids

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Roanoke Rapids. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Rocky Mount, NC has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.

  • Henderson, NC has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.

  • Tarboro, NC has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Roanoke Rapids
Rocky Mount, NC 54,175 87 1.0x
Henderson, NC 14,922 84 1.0x
Tarboro, NC 10,705 88 1.0x
Franklin, VA 8,212 100 1.2x
Nashville, NC 5,672 94 1.1x
Emporia, VA 5,633 92 1.1x

Articles About North Carolina

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