City comparison
Roanoke, VA vs South Bend, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Roanoke, VA (93.6) and South Bend, IN (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Roanoke, VA goes as far as $99,200 in South Bend, IN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,053 a month in Roanoke, VA and $1,105 in South Bend, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,015 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in South Bend, IN.
- 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 Roanoke, VA to South Bend, IN changes real buying power by +0.8%, purely from prices.
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
- South Bend, IN: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Roanoke, VA | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,188 in South Bend | $100,818 in Roanoke |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,053/mo | $1,105/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,140 | $46,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Roanoke, VA and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Roanoke | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 74.6 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 99.2 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Roanoke, VA → South Bend, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,015/yr.
71 Strong offer
South Bend, IN → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,015/yr.
66 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 Roanoke, VA to South Bend, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Roanoke, VA | South Bend, IN | Real change, Roanoke → South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Roanoke, VA | South Bend, IN | South Bend pay in Roanoke dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,010 | $58,180 | $58,656 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,110 | $95,500 | $96,282 (−20.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,240 | $77,940 | $78,578 (+1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,090 | $93,540 | $94,306 (+17.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.