What is the cost of living in Roanoke, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Roanoke has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Roanoke has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Roanoke ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Roanoke ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Roanoke, check out:
Roanoke Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Roanoke. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Roanoke is 104.
The Groceries index in Roanoke is 102.
The Health index in Roanoke is 78.
The Housing index in Roanoke is 105.
The Transportation index in Roanoke is 104.
The Utilities index in Roanoke is 106.
| Living Expense | Roanoke | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 78 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
Roanoke Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Roanoke Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Roanoke, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, 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 is $277,113.
The Median Rent in Roanoke is $996.
The Median Income in Roanoke is $55,378.
The Home Value To Income in Roanoke is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Roanoke is 0.22x.
Roanoke, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Roanoke Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Roanoke Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Roanoke Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Roanoke Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Roanoke SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Roanoke
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Roanoke. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynchburg, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Roanoke.
Blacksburg, VA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.3x Roanoke.
Cave Spring, VA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Roanoke.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 120 | 1.3x |
| Cave Spring, VA | 25,742 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Salem, VA | 25,618 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Hollins, VA | 17,097 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Madison Heights, VA | 10,266 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Vinton, VA | 8,056 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, VA | 7,525 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Buena Vista, VA | 6,593 | 93 | 1.0x |
