Alexandria vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 79.0% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $41,897 in Roanoke to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $41,897 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $134,259 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $225,000. The $365,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $1,050.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $461/month in Roanoke. Roanoke offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $464 in Roanoke. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $65,062 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Roanoke, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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