City comparison
Roanoke, VA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 2.8% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $102,800 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,053 a month in Roanoke, VA and $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,843 in SC.
- 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 Roanoke, VA to Spartanburg, SC changes real buying power by +2.8%, purely from prices.
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Roanoke, VA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,258 in Spartanburg | $102,819 in Roanoke |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,053/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,140 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Roanoke, VA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Roanoke | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Roanoke, VA → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$93/yr.
78 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Roanoke, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$93/yr.
60 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 Roanoke, VA to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Roanoke, VA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Roanoke → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Roanoke, VA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Roanoke dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,010 | $60,990 | $62,709 (+1.1%) |
| Software Developers | $121,110 | $114,460 | $117,687 (−2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,240 | $77,080 | $79,253 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,090 | $82,360 | $84,682 (+5.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.