$100k salary, packing up from Virginia Beach

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of virginia beach

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

$437

less monthly outlay than Virginia Beach

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

24% cheaper than Virginia Beach(vs $1,819/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

vs 5.75% in Virginia Beach

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$437 more than Virginia Beach

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

04a house here

$296k

21% cheaper than Virginia Beach

vs $375k in Virginia Beach

05metro size

314k

vs 1.8M in Virginia Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Virginia Beach actually gets more: 211 pleasant days a year.

60% fewer events than Virginia Beach. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

21% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 57/100 in Virginia Beach

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

·walk score®

94/100

7% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 88/100 in Virginia Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

47% fewer than Virginia Beach

vs 17 nonstops in Virginia Beach

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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