City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Ocala, FL are 1.7% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $101,700 in Ocala, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,172 a month in Ocala, FL versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Ocala, FL and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Ocala, FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Ocala, FL to Roanoke, VA changes real buying power by +1.7%, purely from prices.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Ocala, FL | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,303 in Roanoke | $101,726 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
74 Strong offer
Roanoke, VA → Ocala, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Ocala, FL to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Ocala → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $62,010 | $63,080 (+9.6%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $121,110 | $123,201 (+9.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $77,240 | $78,573 (+5.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $80,090 | $81,472 (+2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.