Paris vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Paris
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 38.3% less expensive than Paris overall. A household earning $75,000 in Paris would need approximately $54,241 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 Paris has the same purchasing power as $54,241 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $103,704 in Paris.
Living in Paris vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Paris's housing index of 155 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $695,000 vs $225,000. The $470,000 difference in home prices means roughly $30,552 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Paris compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Paris and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Paris vs $461/month in Roanoke. 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 108 in Paris and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Paris vs $464 in Roanoke. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 85 in Paris and 91 in Roanoke. 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 $48,000 in Paris and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,857 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 $1,120/month to housing in Paris vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Paris, median rent of $1,800/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 98 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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