City Comparison

Oxnard vs Roanoke

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Oxnard

California
154
Very Expensive
$653,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$96,200
Median Income

Roanoke

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

The Verdict

90.1%

Roanoke is 90.1% less expensive than Oxnard overall. A household earning $75,000 in Oxnard would need approximately $39,448 in Roanoke to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
253
Oxnard
57
Roanoke
Groceries
112
Oxnard
97
Roanoke
Utilities
107
Oxnard
116
Roanoke
Transportation
135
Oxnard
98
Roanoke
Healthcare
113
Oxnard
91
Roanoke

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Oxnard has the same purchasing power as $39,448 in Roanoke.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $142,593 in Oxnard.

Living in Oxnard vs Roanoke

Housing Costs

Oxnard's housing index of 253 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $653,000 vs $225,000. The $428,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,816 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Oxnard compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Oxnard and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Oxnard vs $461/month in Roanoke. Roanoke offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Oxnard and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Oxnard vs $464 in Roanoke. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 113 in Oxnard and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $96,200 in Oxnard and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,468 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 $2,245/month to housing in Oxnard vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Oxnard, median rent of $1,925/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 196 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roanoke is 90.1% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 154.
A $75,000 salary in Oxnard has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $39,448 in Roanoke, based on the cost of living difference.
Oxnard's housing index is 253 with median homes at $653,000, while Roanoke's is 57 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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