City Comparison

Alexandria vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

28.3%

Living in Roswell costs 28.3% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $58,448 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
187
Roswell
Groceries
113
Alexandria
101
Roswell
Utilities
97
Alexandria
98
Roswell
Transportation
107
Alexandria
110
Roswell
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $58,448 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $96,239 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $647,000. The $57,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,708 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $480/month in Roswell. Roswell offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roswell is 28.3% more affordable overall with an index of 113 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,448 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases