Greensboro, NC vs Blacksburg, VA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Blacksburg, VA and Greensboro, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Greensboro works out to about $74,900 in Blacksburg, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.2% lower in Blacksburg, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.4% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,659 a month in Blacksburg and $1,406 in Greensboro, $3,036 a year more in Blacksburg (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $287,000 in Blacksburg and $261,000 in Greensboro.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Greensboro and Blacksburg
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.9 | 92.7 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 74.5 | 74.4 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 88.1 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.6 |
| Category | Greensboro | Blacksburg | Blacksburg vs Greensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.9 | 92.7 | −0.2% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.8 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 74.5 | 74.4 | −0.2% |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 88.1 | −1.1% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.6 | +0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,406 | $1,659 | +18.0% |
| Typical home value | $261,000 | $287,000 | +10.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Greensboro | $75,000 | $74,900 | −0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Greensboro and Blacksburg has narrowed since 2008: 4.7 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.6 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | 91.1 | 87.4 |
| 2010 | 92.9 | 90.2 |
| 2011 | 93.8 | 90.6 |
| 2012 | 93.4 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 93.3 | 92.0 |
| 2014 | 93.8 | 91.8 |
| 2015 | 93.7 | 91.5 |
| 2016 | 92.7 | 88.4 |
| 2017 | 92.4 | 88.7 |
| 2018 | 92.2 | 91.6 |
| 2019 | 90.3 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 89.4 | 91.0 |
| 2021 | 92.7 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 92.5 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 92.9 | 92.7 |
Goods
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.0 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 96.7 | 93.8 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 90.6 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 92.8 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 91.1 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 90.4 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 96.5 | 91.4 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 71.7 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 70.8 | 76.4 |
| 2010 | 72.8 | 75.3 |
| 2011 | 73.8 | 77.4 |
| 2012 | 71.5 | 67.1 |
| 2013 | 71.5 | 77.4 |
| 2014 | 73.3 | 79.7 |
| 2015 | 73.0 | 77.9 |
| 2016 | 66.1 | 64.0 |
| 2017 | 68.9 | 73.7 |
| 2018 | 71.1 | 75.8 |
| 2019 | 68.9 | 74.4 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 78.0 |
| 2021 | 71.0 | 73.0 |
| 2022 | 71.1 | 75.9 |
| 2023 | 74.0 | 67.5 |
| 2024 | 74.5 | 74.4 |
Utilities
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.8 | 77.6 |
| 2009 | 88.2 | 80.7 |
| 2010 | 89.6 | 84.2 |
| 2011 | 88.8 | 84.6 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 90.5 |
| 2013 | 90.6 | 86.5 |
| 2014 | 90.7 | 89.9 |
| 2015 | 90.9 | 93.3 |
| 2016 | 88.3 | 92.6 |
| 2017 | 85.5 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 87.5 | 89.1 |
| 2019 | 90.0 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 88.3 | 89.4 |
| 2021 | 85.3 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 83.0 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 83.9 | 88.3 |
| 2024 | 89.1 | 88.1 |
Other services
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 91.0 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 94.5 |
| 2011 | 100.5 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 99.0 |
| 2015 | 100.8 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.6 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,659 in Blacksburg vs $1,406 in Greensboro
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $756 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $769 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $769 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $773 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $778 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $787 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $797 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $793 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $808 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $818 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $823 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $821 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $835 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $851 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $859 | $1,069 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $859 | $1,023 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $876 | $1,037 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $896 | $1,127 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $897 | $1,133 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $908 | $1,139 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $923 | $1,173 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $936 | $1,145 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $962 | $1,187 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $969 | $1,197 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $994 | $1,219 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,036 | $1,238 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,089 | $1,254 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,120 | $1,296 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,154 | $1,323 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,193 | $1,327 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,223 | $1,354 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,227 | $1,392 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,243 | $1,417 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,269 | $1,441 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,278 | $1,433 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,279 | $1,503 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,293 | $1,500 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,330 | $1,477 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,336 | $1,503 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,335 | $1,546 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,339 | $1,550 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,361 | $1,531 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,372 | $1,596 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,367 | $1,598 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,377 | $1,597 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,396 | $1,586 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,406 | $1,659 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $287,000 in Blacksburg vs $261,000 in Greensboro
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Greensboro, NC
- Blacksburg, VA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Greensboro, NC | Blacksburg, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $129K | $161K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $130K | $163K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $166K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $133K | $167K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $134K | $168K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $135K | $168K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $137K | $169K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $140K | $171K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $141K | $171K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $142K | $172K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $145K | $174K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $147K | $176K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $150K | $178K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $152K | $181K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $154K | $183K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $157K | $184K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $162K | $186K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $164K | $190K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $166K | $192K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $169K | $196K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $172K | $199K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $176K | $202K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $181K | $208K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $189K | $215K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $196K | $222K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $206K | $231K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $211K | $237K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $214K | $241K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $224K | $250K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $237K | $258K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $240K | $260K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $240K | $259K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $240K | $260K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $266K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $249K | $268K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $251K | $269K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $253K | $270K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $258K | $275K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $258K | $274K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $258K | $276K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $260K | $279K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $258K | $277K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $259K | $278K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $260K | $281K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $262K | $285K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $262K | $287K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $261K | $287K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.