States › North Carolina › Roanoke Rapids

Is Roanoke Rapids, NC expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$93247% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$57,905about $4,825/month · 33% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$142,70057% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $37,280 a year. That is $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of North Carolina. It is number 17 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Roanoke Rapids
$932
Henderson
$959
Laurinburg
$965
Reidsville
$875
Eden
$841
Hendersonville
$1,583
Belmont
$1,595

How much do households earn in Roanoke Rapids?

Under $25k
19.3%
$25k–50k
27.7%
$50k–100k
33.9%
$100k–150k
7.8%
$150k+
4.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Roanoke Rapids

SizeRoanoke RapidsU.S. average
1 bedroom$526$1,324
2 bedrooms$881$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,063$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,125$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Roanoke Rapids overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Roanoke Rapids, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Roanoke Rapids

🏛️ Property tax$1,960a year · 1.37% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$173a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Roanoke Rapids

Commute to work21.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree22%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home49.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line18.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment8.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Roanoke Rapids?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $58 a month less.

Renting
$932
Owning
$990

Owning assumes a typical $142,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $14,270 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

Renting in Roanoke Rapids costs a median of about $932 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in Roanoke Rapids?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $37,280 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Roanoke Rapids cheap or expensive?

Roanoke Rapids is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.3% of the typical household income of $57,905. It ranks 17th cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Roanoke Rapids?

The median homeowner in Roanoke Rapids pays $1,960 a year in property taxes, about 1.37% of the median home value.

Is Roanoke Rapids more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Roanoke Rapids?

The median home value in Roanoke Rapids is $142,700, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.

14,856 people live in Roanoke Rapids. Numbers are typical (middle) values.