Portland vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Portland
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 44.4% less expensive than Portland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Portland would need approximately $51,923 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 Portland has the same purchasing power as $51,923 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $108,333 in Portland.
Living in Portland vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Portland's housing index of 137 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $225,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Portland compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Portland and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Portland vs $461/month in Roanoke. Roanoke offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 111 in Portland and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $444 in Portland vs $464 in Roanoke. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Portland and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,895 in Portland and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,628 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 $1,328/month to housing in Portland vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/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 80 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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