Charleston vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 35.8% less expensive than Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charleston would need approximately $55,227 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 Charleston has the same purchasing power as $55,227 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $101,852 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 127 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $225,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Charleston compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Charleston and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Charleston vs $461/month in Roanoke. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Charleston and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Charleston 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 104 in Charleston and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,872 in Charleston and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,884 and $65,062 respectively. Roanoke residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,537/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 70 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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