Roanoke wins overall by ~6% (COL index)
Cost of living: Roanoke vs Virginia Beach (2026)
A $60,000 salary in Roanoke buys roughly what $64,138 does in Virginia Beach (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices — we break them down and personalize below.
Your move simulator
Tell us about your household — we calculate your real annual savings.
Estimated annual swing
+$4,800/yr
Favoring Roanoke for this income & household (illustrative).
With the extra $400/mo, you could pay down a $15,000 card balance in ~38 months and still keep ~$48/mo for dining out.
Studio rent/mo
1BR rent/mo
2BR rent/mo
Median home price
Groceries index (100 = US avg)
Budget meal (1 person)
Mid-range dinner (2)
Monthly transit pass/mo
Gas price/gal
Car insurance/mo
Monthly utilities bundle/mo
Internet/mo
Median household income/yr
State income tax%
Sales tax (combined)%
Movie ticket
Gym membership/mo
Beer at restaurant
Overall COL index (100 = US avg)
Walk score / 100
| Category | Roanoke Virginia | Virginia Beach Virginia | Who wins | Your impact at $60K · 1br · 1 car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | ||||
| Studio rent/mo | $950Wins | $1,200 | Roanoke wins +$250/mo | $3,000/yr saves in Roanoke |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,200Wins | $1,550 | Roanoke wins +$350/mo | $4,200/yr saves in Roanoke |
| 2BR rent/mo | $1,550Wins | $2,000 | Roanoke wins +$450/mo | $5,400/yr saves in Roanoke |
| Median home price | $240KWins | $310K | Roanoke wins +$70K | — |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 95Better | 97 | Roanoke wins +2 | — |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $12Better | $13 | Roanoke wins +$1/mo | — |
| Mid-range dinner (2) | $50Better | $55 | Roanoke wins +$5/mo | — |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $48Better | $48 | — | — |
| Gas price/gal | $3.10Better | $3.15 | Roanoke wins +$0.05 | — |
| Car insurance/mo | $148Better | $160 | Roanoke wins +$12/mo | — |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly utilities bundle/mo | $155Better | $170 | Roanoke wins +$15/mo | — |
| Internet/mo | $60Better | $60 | — | — |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Median household income/yr | $50K | $68KWins | Virginia wins +$18K more/yr | — |
| State income tax% | 5.8%Better | 5.8% | — | — |
| Sales tax (combined)% | 5.5%Better | 6.0% | Roanoke wins +0.5 pp | — |
| 🎬 LeisureQ1 2026 | ||||
| Movie ticket | $14.00Better | $15.00 | Roanoke wins +$1.00 | — |
| Gym membership/mo | $35Wins | $40 | Roanoke wins +$5/mo | — |
| Beer at restaurant | $5.50Better | $6.00 | Roanoke wins +$0.50 | — |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | ||||
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 87Better | 93 | Roanoke wins +6 | — |
| Walk score / 100 | 38Wins | 21 | Roanoke wins -17 more/yr | — |
Complete the Picture
While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
Tax-smart rewards
Maximize everyday spend in your new city
Roanoke fits your move math — cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.
Home + auto bundle
New state — new insurance rates
Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in Roanoke.
High-yield savings
Park ~$4,200/yr rent savings at 4–5%+ APY
Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% — put it to work until closing day.
More ways to compare this move
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Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.
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While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
If cash is tight
Knock down high-interest debt first
A move has upfront costs — a balance transfer or personal loan can lower APR while you settle in.
If you're saving big
Invest the surplus on autopilot
Brokerages and robo-advisors help you dollar-cost average into the market with your new slack.
Frequently asked questions
Is Roanoke cheaper than Virginia Beach?
Yes. Roanoke is 6% cheaper than Virginia Beach based on overall cost of living indices (87 vs 93, where 100 = US average).
What is the average rent in Roanoke vs Virginia Beach?
As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in Roanoke is $1,200/month and in Virginia Beach is $1,550/month. Roanoke is cheaper by 23%.
How much do I need to earn in Virginia Beach to match a $75,000 salary in Roanoke?
To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $80,172/year in Virginia Beach to match a $75,000 salary in Roanoke. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.
Which city has lower taxes — Roanoke or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach has the lower state income tax rate at 5.8% vs 5.8%. The difference is 0.0 percentage points. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary — see the full breakdown in the table above.
Is it worth moving from Roanoke to Virginia Beach?
It depends on your priorities. Roanoke offers lower overall costs, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.
Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS · Updated Q1 2026 · For general guidance only
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