City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 9.1% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $109,100 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,936 in VA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Fresno, CA to Roanoke, VA ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.6% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- 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
| Fresno, CA | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,640 in Roanoke | $109,122 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$135/yr.
97 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$135/yr.
43 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Fresno → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $62,010 | $67,667 (−14.1%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $121,110 | $132,158 (+2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $77,240 | $84,286 (+7.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $80,090 | $87,396 (−30.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.