Roanoke, VA 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 Roanoke, VA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Roanoke works out to about $74,300 in Blacksburg, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.3% lower in Blacksburg, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,659 a month in Blacksburg and $1,400 in Roanoke, $3,108 a year more in Blacksburg (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $287,000 in Blacksburg and $298,000 in Roanoke.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.1%).
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 Roanoke and Blacksburg
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 92.7 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 78.5 | 74.4 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 88.1 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| Category | Roanoke | Blacksburg | Blacksburg vs Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 92.7 | −1.0% |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 78.5 | 74.4 | −5.3% |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 88.1 | −0.9% |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.6 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,400 | $1,659 | +18.5% |
| Typical home value | $298,000 | $287,000 | −3.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Roanoke | $75,000 | $74,300 | −1.0% |
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 Roanoke and Blacksburg has narrowed since 2008: 4.5 points then, 0.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.4 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | 92.2 | 87.4 |
| 2010 | 94.3 | 90.2 |
| 2011 | 91.3 | 90.6 |
| 2012 | 93.1 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 93.2 | 92.0 |
| 2014 | 93.2 | 91.8 |
| 2015 | 91.8 | 91.5 |
| 2016 | 92.0 | 88.4 |
| 2017 | 91.1 | 88.7 |
| 2018 | 91.9 | 91.6 |
| 2019 | 91.0 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 90.2 | 91.0 |
| 2021 | 93.7 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 91.2 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 92.7 |
Goods
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.0 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 90.6 |
| 2013 | 95.9 | 92.8 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 91.1 |
| 2015 | 94.7 | 90.4 |
| 2016 | 95.6 | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 91.4 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 73.1 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 78.5 | 76.4 |
| 2010 | 80.9 | 75.3 |
| 2011 | 67.7 | 77.4 |
| 2012 | 74.8 | 67.1 |
| 2013 | 75.1 | 77.4 |
| 2014 | 75.8 | 79.7 |
| 2015 | 70.5 | 77.9 |
| 2016 | 69.3 | 64.0 |
| 2017 | 68.7 | 73.7 |
| 2018 | 73.2 | 75.8 |
| 2019 | 73.9 | 74.4 |
| 2020 | 71.9 | 78.0 |
| 2021 | 78.3 | 73.0 |
| 2022 | 73.3 | 75.9 |
| 2023 | 67.6 | 67.5 |
| 2024 | 78.5 | 74.4 |
Utilities
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.4 | 77.6 |
| 2009 | 90.5 | 80.7 |
| 2010 | 91.2 | 84.2 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 84.6 |
| 2012 | 91.9 | 90.5 |
| 2013 | 89.2 | 86.5 |
| 2014 | 91.0 | 89.9 |
| 2015 | 91.7 | 93.3 |
| 2016 | 90.0 | 92.6 |
| 2017 | 88.0 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 90.0 | 89.1 |
| 2019 | 92.7 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 90.9 | 89.4 |
| 2021 | 87.8 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 89.6 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 89.5 | 88.3 |
| 2024 | 88.9 | 88.1 |
Other services
- Roanoke, VA
- Blacksburg, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 91.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 94.5 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 99.7 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 99.5 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 99.6 | 99.0 |
| 2015 | 100.1 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 100.7 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 98.7 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2023 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,659 in Blacksburg vs $1,400 in Roanoke
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Roanoke, VA
- 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
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $748 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $757 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $762 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $756 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $763 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $770 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $790 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $802 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $786 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $796 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $808 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $796 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $799 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $819 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $839 | $1,069 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $827 | $1,023 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $841 | $1,037 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $872 | $1,127 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $875 | $1,133 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $869 | $1,139 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $895 | $1,173 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $894 | $1,145 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $924 | $1,187 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $914 | $1,197 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $933 | $1,219 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $974 | $1,238 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,012 | $1,254 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,045 | $1,296 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,082 | $1,323 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,131 | $1,327 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,156 | $1,354 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,157 | $1,392 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,170 | $1,417 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,210 | $1,441 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,229 | $1,433 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,221 | $1,503 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,240 | $1,500 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,272 | $1,477 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,290 | $1,503 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,293 | $1,546 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,313 | $1,550 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,328 | $1,531 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,353 | $1,596 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,343 | $1,598 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,376 | $1,597 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,388 | $1,586 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,400 | $1,659 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $287,000 in Blacksburg vs $298,000 in Roanoke
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Roanoke, VA
- 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
| Roanoke, VA | Blacksburg, VA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $155K | $161K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $157K | $163K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $158K | $166K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $159K | $167K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $159K | $168K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $159K | $168K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $160K | $169K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $162K | $171K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $163K | $171K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $165K | $172K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $166K | $174K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $167K | $176K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $168K | $178K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $170K | $181K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $172K | $183K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $172K | $184K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $176K | $186K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $179K | $190K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $181K | $192K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $184K | $196K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $188K | $199K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $190K | $202K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $196K | $208K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $206K | $215K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $213K | $222K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $221K | $231K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $225K | $237K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $226K | $241K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $237K | $250K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $249K | $258K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $253K | $260K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $254K | $259K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $254K | $260K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $261K | $266K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $266K | $268K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $269K | $269K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $271K | $270K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $277K | $275K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $280K | $274K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $284K | $276K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $285K | $279K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $285K | $277K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $289K | $278K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $293K | $281K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $295K | $285K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $296K | $287K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $298K | $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.