Bellevue vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 95.1% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $38,449 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 Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $38,449 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $146,296 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $225,000. The $1.1M difference in home prices means roughly $69,936 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $1,450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $461/month in Roanoke. Roanoke offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $792/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue 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 120 in Bellevue and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 29-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $65,062 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/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 192 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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