A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
38%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Roanoke Rapids North Carolina National
Cost of living8894100
Goods & Services9998100
Groceries9898100
Health care112108100
Housing6285100
Transportation9392100
Utilities9894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Roanoke Rapids, NC

The cost of living in Roanoke Rapids affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Roanoke Rapids is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Roanoke Rapids Affordable?

Is Roanoke Rapids affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Roanoke Rapids, for instance, where the median home price falls 41.9% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 28.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Roanoke Rapids flaunting a median household income of $38,500, 30.4% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Roanoke Rapids?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Roanoke Rapids, healthcare costs are 11.5% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Roanoke Rapids, the groceries index is 1.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Roanoke Rapids cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Roanoke Rapids is 6% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Roanoke Rapids is 12% lower than the national average
  • Roanoke Rapids housing is 38% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 121% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Roanoke Rapids

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Compare Roanoke Rapids, NC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$60,307$5,026$1,407$1,809
      Renters$18,920$1,577$441$568
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Roanoke Rapids is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Roanoke Rapids has a median income of about $60,307 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,407 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $18,920. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $441 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      North Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      North Carolina 4.75% 7.5%

      North Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      North Carolina 4.99% 4.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.00$24.2621.7%
      Beauty Salon $29.58$45.5635.1%
      Toothpaste $3.65$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.09$1.2815.1%
      Movie $10.27$12.1315.3%
      Bowling $11.00$18.0038.9%

      Groceries

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.93$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.59$1.570.9%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.1%
      Potatoes $5.18$4.934.9%
      Pizza $10.47$12.0913.4%
      Beer $10.29$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $141.56$125.6812.6%
      Doctor $136.38$135.780.4%
      Dentist $100.17$113.2911.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.24$10.653.9%
      Lipitor $429.52$468.608.3%

      Housing

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      Home Price $107,400.00$184,700.0041.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,813.02$2,346.6922.7%
      Apartment Rent $680.00$949.0028.3%

      Transportation

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.45$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $63.55$59.926.1%

      Utilities

      Item Roanoke Rapids National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.14$193.993.7%
      Phone $187.32$192.252.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Halifax, NC240991.4%
      South Weldon, NC8278217.8%
      Littleton, NC5208217.7%
      Jackson, NC7088415.5%
      Seaboard, NC7438515.2%
      Roanoke Rapids, NC14,5628812.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Saraland, AL14,561927.5%
      Pewaukee, WI14,56112221.8%
      Thibodaux, LA14,565928.5%
      Homosassa Springs, FL14,5668317.4%
      Gantt, SC14,5569010.0%
      Roanoke Rapids, NC14,5628812.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.