CostIndexUSA

Roanoke, VA vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Roanoke is moderately cheaper than Waterbury — 6.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Roanoke, you would need $85,300 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.5%
Roanoke
78.5
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Roanoke
96.8
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+4.2%
Roanoke
103.5
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Roanoke
93.7
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+66.0%
Roanoke
88.9
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$85,300
$5,300 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0662. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Waterbury has 13.5% 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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.