Roanoke vs Sugar Land
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Roanoke
Sugar Land
The Verdict
Roanoke is 26.4% less expensive than Sugar Land overall. A household earning $75,000 in Roanoke would need approximately $101,852 in Sugar Land 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 Roanoke has the same purchasing power as $101,852 in Sugar Land.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $55,227 in Roanoke.
Living in Roanoke vs Sugar Land
Housing Costs
Roanoke's housing index of 57 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $225,000 vs $456,000. The $231,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,012 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Roanoke compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Roanoke and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Roanoke vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 116 in Roanoke and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $464 in Roanoke vs $384 in Sugar Land. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Roanoke and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $52,700 in Roanoke and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,062 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,230/month to housing in Roanoke vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Roanoke, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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