Memphis vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Memphis
Roanoke
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 21% cheaper than Roanoke overall. A $75,000 salary in Memphis is equivalent to $94,643 in Roanoke.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Memphis (left) vs Roanoke (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Memphis versus Roanoke. Differences shown from Memphis perspective.
| Item | Memphis | Roanoke | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $720/mo | $1,190/mo | $-470.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,000/mo | $1,520/mo | $-520.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,970/mo | $-670.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.40 | $2.78 | $-0.38 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.74 | $4.12 | $-0.38 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.05 | $3.34 | $-0.29 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.47 | $6.42 | $-0.95 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.29 | $3.28 | +$0.01 |
| Restaurant Meal | $13.90 | $18.80 | $-4.90 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $94,643 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $59,434 in Memphis.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3751 difference is driven by Virginia having a higher state income tax rate. Tennessee details → · Virginia details →
Reading These Numbers: Memphis (84) vs Roanoke (106)
Memphis at 84 is 16% below the US average, while Roanoke at 106 is 6% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Memphis, the composite index of 84 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 63, followed by groceries (93), utilities (88), transportation (98), and healthcare (92). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,000/mo in Memphis and $1,520/mo in Roanoke, the annual rent difference is approximately $6,240.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $31,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $181,000.0 difference in median home prices between Memphis and Roanoke translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Memphis vs Roanoke
Choosing between Memphis and Roanoke involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Memphis and Roanoke reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.