City Comparison

Lowell vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

Roswell

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

The Verdict

15.9%

Roswell is 15.9% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lowell would need approximately $64,695 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
152
Lowell
187
Roswell
Groceries
104
Lowell
101
Roswell
Utilities
151
Lowell
98
Roswell
Transportation
108
Lowell
110
Roswell
Healthcare
118
Lowell
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lowell has the same purchasing power as $64,695 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $86,947 in Lowell.

Living in Lowell vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Lowell's housing index of 152 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $429,000 vs $647,000. The $218,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,172 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Lowell compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Lowell and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Lowell vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 151 in Lowell and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $604 in Lowell vs $392 in Roswell. 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 118 in Lowell and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $79,700 in Lowell and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,840 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 $1,860/month to housing in Lowell vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roswell is 15.9% more affordable overall with an index of 113 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Lowell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $64,695 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Lowell's housing index is 152 with median homes at $429,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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