Murfreesboro vs Roswell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Murfreesboro
Roswell
The Verdict
Living in Murfreesboro costs 17.7% less than Roswell. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro, you would need $91,129 in Roswell.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro has the same purchasing power as $91,129 in Roswell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $61,726 in Murfreesboro.
Living in Murfreesboro vs Roswell
Housing Costs
Murfreesboro's housing index of 85 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $647,000. The $322,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Murfreesboro compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Murfreesboro and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Murfreesboro vs $480/month in Roswell. Murfreesboro offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Murfreesboro and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Murfreesboro vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Murfreesboro and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,200 in Murfreesboro and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,355 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 $1,288/month to housing in Murfreesboro vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Murfreesboro, median rent of $1,350/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 Housing, where the gap is 102 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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