City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pensacola, FL are 4.4% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $104,400 in Pensacola, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,257 a month in Pensacola, FL versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Pensacola, FL and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Pensacola, FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Pensacola, FL to Roanoke, VA changes real buying power by +4.4%, purely from prices.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (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
| Pensacola, FL | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,805 in Roanoke | $104,378 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,240 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
82 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Pensacola, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Pensacola, FL to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Pensacola → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $62,010 | $64,725 (+28.5%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $121,110 | $126,413 (+16.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $77,240 | $80,622 (+5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $80,090 | $83,597 (+7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.