City comparison
Roanoke, VA vs San Diego, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 19.5% higher than in Roanoke, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Roanoke, VA would need about $119,500 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.2% moving from Roanoke, VA to San Diego, CA ($106,437 → $121,585), while prices change by +19.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.4% in real buying power.
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Roanoke, VA | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 111.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $119,514 in San Diego | $83,672 in Roanoke |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,053/mo | $2,459/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,140 | $58,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA |
Rent areas: Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA. Metro areas: Roanoke, VA and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Roanoke | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 179.3 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 108.0 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 174.2 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 111.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Roanoke, VA → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.3%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$135/yr.
15 Weak offer
San Diego, CA → Roanoke, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$135/yr.
100 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Roanoke, VA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; San Diego, CA is in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Roanoke, VA to San Diego, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Roanoke, VA | San Diego, CA | Real change, Roanoke → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,507 | −4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,307 | −4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,246 | −4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,585 | −4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,677 | −4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Roanoke, VA | San Diego, CA | San Diego pay in Roanoke dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $122,380 | $132,120 | $110,547 (−9.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,110 | $163,270 | $136,611 (+12.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,240 | $96,340 | $80,610 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,090 | $139,520 | $116,739 (+45.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.