CostIndexUSA

Roanoke, VA vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Roanoke is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 12.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Roanoke, you would need $89,600 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+42.4%
Roanoke
78.5
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+6.5%
Roanoke
96.8
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Roanoke
103.5
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Roanoke
93.7
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities+5.2%
Roanoke
88.9
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$89,600
$9,600 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.1197. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Roanoke, VA

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

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

St. Paul has 42.4% higher housing costs compared to Roanoke.

Income & Job Market

Roanoke, VA

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

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Roanoke, VA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.