$100k salary, packing up from Columbia

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of columbia

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

$231

below Columbia's monthly cost

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

11% cheaper than Columbia(vs $1,551/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$62/mo less in state tax than Columbia

vs 6.5% in Columbia

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$231 more than Columbia

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

04a house here

$296k

16% more expensive than Columbia

vs $255k in Columbia

05metro size

314k

vs 857k in Columbia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Columbia has the edge here, logging 189 pleasant days a year.

Columbia hosts 1.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

25% higher than Columbia

vs 55/100 in Columbia

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

·walk score®

94/100

11% higher than Columbia

vs 85/100 in Columbia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

10% fewer than Columbia

vs 10 nonstops in Columbia

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

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compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington