$100k salary, packing up from Chicago

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of chicago

Roanoke

va · metro 314k

photo: Joseph Fuller / pexels

a dispatch from

roanoke

VA

37.27°N

79.94°W

Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.

metro314k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$721

less monthly outlay than Chicago

The gap is real. Roanoke costs noticeably less than Chicago, every month.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

36% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$67/mo more in state tax than Chicago

vs 4.95% in Chicago

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$721 more than Chicago

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$296k

19% cheaper than Chicago

vs $365k in Chicago

05metro size

314k

vs 9.3M in Chicago

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Chicago barely cracks 153 pleasant ones.

99% fewer events than Chicago. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

1% lower than Chicago

vs 70/100 in Chicago

Closest outdoor draw: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 22.3 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

6% lower than Chicago

vs 100/100 in Chicago

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

96% fewer than Chicago

vs 217 nonstops in Chicago

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as roanoke:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

el paso

$388/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington