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 88, 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 95.
The standard of living in Roanoke Rapids ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Roanoke Rapids ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Roanoke Rapids, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Roanoke Rapids is 96.
The Groceries index in Roanoke Rapids is 99.
The Health index in Roanoke Rapids is 62.
The Housing index in Roanoke Rapids is 98.
The Transportation index in Roanoke Rapids is 98.
The Utilities index in Roanoke Rapids is 98.
| Living Expense | Roanoke Rapids | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Roanoke Rapids Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Roanoke Rapids is $121,329.
The Median Rent in Roanoke Rapids is $858.
The Median Income in Roanoke Rapids is $53,690.
The Home Value To Income in Roanoke Rapids is 2.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Roanoke Rapids is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Roanoke Rapids | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $121,329 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $858 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,690 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 88, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.
Henderson, NC has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.
Tarboro, NC has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Roanoke Rapids.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Roanoke Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | 54,297 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Henderson, NC | 14,885 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Tarboro, NC | 10,770 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Franklin, VA | 8,250 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Nashville, NC | 5,729 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Emporia, VA | 5,547 | 91 | 1.0x |
