City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 7.6% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $107,600 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,244 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Roanoke, VA ($109,246 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.8% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- 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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,961 in Roanoke | $107,572 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,244/yr.
92 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,244/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Colorado Springs → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $61,722 | +4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $74,678 | +4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $89,508 | +4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $106,437 | +4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $125,776 | +4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $62,010 | $66,706 (+9.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $121,110 | $130,281 (−3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $77,240 | $83,089 (−2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $80,090 | $86,155 (−10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.