CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Roanoke, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Roanoke is moderately cheaper than Denver — 11.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $70,800 in Roanoke. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing46.6%
Denver
146.9
Roanoke
78.5
🛒 Groceries4.2%
Denver
101
Roanoke
96.8
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Denver
104.4
Roanoke
103.5
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Denver
94.5
Roanoke
93.7
Utilities+1.1%
Denver
87.9
Roanoke
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Roanoke to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Roanoke, VA
$70,800
$9,200 less needed in Roanoke

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.8847. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Roanoke, VA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Denver has 46.6% lower housing costs compared to Roanoke.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Roanoke, VA

Median Household Income
$65,500
Per Capita Income
$37,300
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
99,394
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Roanoke, VA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.