CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Roanoke, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Roanoke is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $77,400 in Roanoke. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.6%
Gainesville
93
Roanoke
78.5
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Gainesville
96.2
Roanoke
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Gainesville
103.8
Roanoke
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Gainesville
93.9
Roanoke
93.7
Utilities+0.8%
Gainesville
88.2
Roanoke
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Roanoke, VA
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Roanoke

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9679. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Roanoke, VA

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

Gainesville has 15.6% lower housing costs compared to Roanoke.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.