City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 4.5% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $104,500 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- Both are in VA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,936 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Roanoke, VA ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,667 in Roanoke | $104,529 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
83 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Richmond → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $62,010 | $64,818 (+5.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $121,110 | $126,595 (−4.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $77,240 | $80,738 (−4.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $80,090 | $83,717 (−10.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.