City comparison
Roanoke, VA vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 1.0% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $101,000 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,053 a month in Roanoke, VA versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Roanoke, VA and 15% in Utica, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,860 in NY.
- 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by +1.0%, purely from prices.
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Roanoke, VA | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,996 in Utica | $101,014 in Roanoke |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,053/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,140 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Roanoke, VA and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Roanoke | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Roanoke, VA → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$76/yr.
72 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$76/yr.
66 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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Roanoke, VA | Utica, NY | Real change, Roanoke → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Roanoke, VA | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Roanoke dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,010 | $77,010 | $77,791 (+25.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,110 | $113,390 | $114,540 (−5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,240 | $79,830 | $80,640 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,090 | $94,300 | $95,256 (+18.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.