Juneau vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Juneau
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 56.8% less expensive than Juneau overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $47,835 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 Juneau has the same purchasing power as $47,835 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $117,593 in Juneau.
Living in Juneau vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $225,000. The $299,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,440 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $461/month in Roanoke. Roanoke offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1476/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau 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 151 in Juneau and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 60-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $65,062 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 74 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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