City comparison
Cincinnati, OH vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 1.9% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $101,900 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,051 a month in Cincinnati, OH and $1,053 in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,968 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Cincinnati, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Cincinnati, OH to Roanoke, VA ($110,865 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.2% in real buying power.
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cincinnati, OH | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.4 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,163 in Roanoke | $101,871 in Cincinnati |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,051/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,170 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cincinnati | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.6 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 91.0 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 95.4 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cincinnati, OH → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,968/yr.
75 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Cincinnati, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$2,968/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cincinnati, OH is in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Cincinnati, OH to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cincinnati, OH | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Cincinnati → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,290 | $61,722 | −2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,785 | $74,678 | −2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,231 | $89,508 | −2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,865 | $106,437 | −2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,009 | $125,776 | −2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cincinnati, OH | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Cincinnati dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,740 | $62,010 | $63,170 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,420 | $121,110 | $123,376 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,640 | $77,240 | $78,685 (−2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,650 | $80,090 | $81,589 (−2.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.