CostIndexUSA

Racine, WI vs Roanoke, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Roanoke is slightly cheaper than Racine — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Racine, you would need $78,000 in Roanoke. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.7%
Racine
92
Roanoke
78.5
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Racine
93.8
Roanoke
96.8
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Racine
104.4
Roanoke
103.5
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Racine
94.4
Roanoke
93.7
Utilities1.2%
Racine
90
Roanoke
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Roanoke, VA
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Roanoke

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 96) = salary × 0.9750. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$293,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Roanoke, VA

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

Racine has 14.7% lower housing costs compared to Roanoke.

Income & Job Market

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

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).

Racine, WI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.