Cost of Living Comparison Between Roanoke, VA and Albury Cost of Living Comparison Between Roanoke, VA and Albury

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,947 in Roanoke, VA versus $1,821 in Albury.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,833 in Roanoke, VA versus $2,744 in Albury.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,720 in Roanoke, VA versus $3,668 in Albury.

Living in Roanoke, VA is roughly 7% more expensive than in Albury, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Roanoke, VA 46% above, Albury 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$16.16 A$23.13

23.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 $71.1

$88.1 A$126

-19.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$9.51 A$13.61

14.09%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$3.36 A$4.82

54.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.62 A$3.75

-16.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.30 A$3.29

-12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.83 $3.83

$6.65 A$9.52

-42.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 $4.05

$6.65 A$9.52

-39.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.36 A$1.95

-34.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.62 A$3.75

18.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.85 A$2.65

103.78%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$4.10 A$5.87

-28.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 $8.94

$7.82 A$11.19

14.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$9.28 A$13.28

-18.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.93 $14.93

$11.49 A$16.45

29.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.01 A$4.31

38.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$2.95 A$4.23

-60.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.07 A$4.39

6.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.70 A$6.73

-7.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.34 A$3.35

-14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.93 A$2.76

38.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.21 A$3.16

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.27 A$1.82

48.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$22.97 A$32.88

-60.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.03 $11.03

$14.12 A$20.21

-21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$4.04 A$5.79

-58.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

$5.38 A$7.70

-75.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.55 A$3.65

-45.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.7 $84.7

$66.7 A$95.5

26.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.16 A$4.53

-19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.70 A$2.43

-11.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.88 $22.88

$38.47 A$55.1

-40.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.18 A$1.69

-31.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.5K $23.5K

$29.3K A$42.0K

-19.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$23.3K A$33.3K

6.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$162 $162

$225 A$322

-28.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.3 $54.3

$30.19 A$43.22

79.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 $64.2

$52.8 A$75.5

21.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.69 $16.69

$48.79 A$69.9

-65.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.65 A$22.40

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 $12.18

$12.26 A$17.56

-0.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$403 $403

$1,743 A$2,496

-76.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K $30.4K

$13.5K A$19.3K

125.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.94 $27.94

$61.4 A$87.9

-54.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.26 $22.26

$38.24 A$54.8

-41.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$90.0 A$129

-14.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$101 A$144

2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 $1,426

$814 A$1,166

75.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 $776

$625 A$895

24.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,339 A$1,917

49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$983 A$1,407

24.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,000 $2,000

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,985 $1,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,230 $3,230

$3,560 A$5,097

-9.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.29

3.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Roanoke, VA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Albury: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,426 in Roanoke, VA and $814 in Albury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Albury pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Roanoke, VA vs $88.0 in Albury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $331 per month, with Roanoke, VA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Roanoke, VA vs Albury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albury wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Roanoke, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albury the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Albury. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,426 in Roanoke, VA versus $814 in Albury. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Roanoke, VA pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Albury – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $71.0 in Roanoke, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,821 in Albury versus $1,947 in Roanoke, VA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albury but tight or insufficient in Roanoke, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Albury the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Roanoke, VA and Albury are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albury gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Roanoke, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.