City Comparison

Dublin vs Roanoke

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Dublin

Ireland
104
Average
$470,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$56,000
Median Income

Roanoke

Virginia
81
Very Affordable
$225,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$52,700
Median Income

The Verdict

28.4%

Roanoke is 28.4% less expensive than Dublin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dublin would need approximately $58,413 in Roanoke to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
128
Dublin
57
Roanoke
Groceries
95
Dublin
97
Roanoke
Utilities
110
Dublin
116
Roanoke
Transportation
108
Dublin
98
Roanoke
Healthcare
82
Dublin
91
Roanoke

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Dublin has the same purchasing power as $58,413 in Roanoke.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $96,296 in Dublin.

Living in Dublin vs Roanoke

Housing Costs

Dublin's housing index of 128 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $225,000. The $245,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,924 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Dublin compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $1,050.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Dublin and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Dublin 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 110 in Dublin and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Dublin vs $464 in Roanoke. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 82 in Dublin and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,000 in Dublin and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,846 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 $1,307/month to housing in Dublin vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Dublin, median rent of $2,125/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 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roanoke is 28.4% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Dublin has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,413 in Roanoke, based on the cost of living difference.
Dublin's housing index is 128 with median homes at $470,000, while Roanoke's is 57 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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