Kinston, NC vs Roanoke Rapids, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Roanoke Rapids, NC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than Kinston, NC.

Kinston, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,190 / 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 Kinston, NC 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $217/month in Roanoke Rapids, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,397 in Roanoke Rapids, NC

Regional cost estimates: Kinston, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Roanoke Rapids, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$217
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.6K
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.

Kinston, NC

Population:19K
Cost Index:
89.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$91K

Roanoke Rapids, NC

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

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Kinston, NC

The Tar Heel State

19K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 19K 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: Kinston, NC 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
↓ 3.4%
Kinston, NC
$2,249
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$2,173
Difference
$76.25
less
Other
↓ 3.4%
Kinston, NC
$1,729
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$1,670
Difference
$58.60
less
Transportation
↓ 3.4%
Kinston, NC
$1,300
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$1,256
Difference
$44.07
less
Groceries
↓ 1.7%
Kinston, NC
$1,012
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$995
Difference
$17.30
less
Healthcare
↓ 1.7%
Kinston, NC
$634
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$623
Difference
$10.84
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.7%
Kinston, NC
$576
Roanoke Rapids, NC
$566
Difference
$9.85
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$900
To$650
↓ $250
1 Bed
From$910
To$760
↓ $150
2 Bed
From$1,190
To$950
↓ $240
3 Bed
From$1,600
To$1,220
↓ $380
Kinston, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Kinston, NC
$7,283
Monthly in Roanoke Rapids, NC
$217
Difference

Home Values

Kinston
Roanoke Rapids
$91K
Median Value
$113K
↑ +2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.5%
↑ +68.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +31%

Homes in Roanoke Rapids are 25% more expensive than Kinston

Calculate payment - KinstonCalculate payment - Roanoke Rapids

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Kinston, 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

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

Kinston, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

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

Kinston
Roanoke Rapids
46 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
61.7%
Good Air Days
61.7%
96 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
31 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
31 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Kinston, NC 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 Kinston, NC. 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 Kinston 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: Kinston, NC vs Roanoke Rapids, NC

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

Roanoke Rapids, NC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than Kinston, NC. 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 Kinston, NC, the model estimates $147,397 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 Kinston, NC and Roanoke Rapids, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,190/month in Kinston, NC 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.

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Kinston, NC on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $132/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $102/mo

Similar cost to Roanoke Rapids, NC

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