Anniston, AL vs Roanoke Rapids, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Roanoke Rapids, NC has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% higher than Anniston, AL.

Anniston, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$935 / month
Roanoke Rapids, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Anniston, AL and Roanoke Rapids, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $257/month in Roanoke Rapids, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,081 in Roanoke Rapids, NC

Regional cost estimates: Anniston, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Roanoke Rapids, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$257
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Anniston, AL

Population:21K
Cost Index:
85.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$105K

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Population:15K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$113K

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Anniston, AL

The Heart of Dixie

21K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Roanoke Rapids, NC

The Tar Heel State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Anniston, AL vs Roanoke Rapids, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 16.6%
Anniston, AL
$1,984
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$2,315
Difference
$330
more
Healthcare
↑ 11.4%
Anniston, AL
$596
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$664
Difference
$67.89
more
Groceries
↓ 4.7%
Anniston, AL
$1,111
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$1,059
Difference
$52.01
less
Transportation
↓ 2.9%
Anniston, AL
$1,378
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$1,338
Difference
$40.61
less
Other
↓ 1.4%
Anniston, AL
$1,804
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$1,779
Difference
$25.42
less
All Utilities
↓ 3.7%
Anniston, AL
$627
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$603
Difference
$23.29
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$650
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$760
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$935
To$950
↑ $15.00
3 Bed
From$1,265
To$1,220
↓ $45.00
Anniston, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$800/mo

Roanoke Rapids, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Anniston, AL
$7,757
Monthly in Roanoke Rapids, NC
$257
Difference

Home Values

Anniston
Roanoke Rapids
$105K
Median Value
$113K
↑ +0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.5%
↑ +9.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +31%
$65K - $145K
Price Range
$113K

Homes in Roanoke Rapids are 8% more expensive than Anniston

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $335
Per year
Monthly Difference
$27.92
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Anniston, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Anniston, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Roanoke Rapids, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Anniston
Roanoke Rapids
57 Moderate
Air Quality
46 Good
26%
Good Air Days
61.7%
98 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Anniston, AL to Roanoke Rapids, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Roanoke Rapids, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Anniston, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Anniston to Roanoke Rapids moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Roanoke Rapids, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Anniston, AL vs Roanoke Rapids, NC

How do the cost estimates for Anniston, AL and Roanoke Rapids, NC compare?

Roanoke Rapids, NC has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% higher than Anniston, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Anniston, AL, the model estimates $153,081 in Roanoke Rapids, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Anniston, AL and Roanoke Rapids, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $935/month in Anniston, AL and $950/month in Roanoke Rapids, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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