Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Living in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina is about 5% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 95 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,271 a month, 34% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 39% of the area's $66,186 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,271
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.49
Combo meal
Electricity
14.95¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$116/mo
$1,392/yr
Median Household Income
$66,186
38.8% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,392 in Roanoke Rapids. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,271/mo in Roanoke Rapids. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.29 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$2.69 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$2.49 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$6.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.29 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$2.69 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$2.49 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$6.99 @ Fred Meyer - Boise Franklin (FRED) (Mar 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.49
Casual Dining
$24.93
Monthly Spend
$441.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Roanoke Rapids?
Average 1BR: $1,042/mo · 2BR: $1,500/mo
Roanoke Rapids Cost of Living FAQ
Is Roanoke Rapids, NC expensive to live in?
Roanoke Rapids has a cost of living index of 95, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% cheaper than average. It is the 10th most affordable of the 22 North Carolina cities we track.
What is the average rent in Roanoke Rapids, NC?
Typical rent in Roanoke Rapids is $1,271 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 34% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,042 and two bedrooms about $1,500. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Roanoke Rapids?
Rent in Roanoke Rapids rose 0.0% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Roanoke Rapids?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.23 a gallon in Roanoke Rapids as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for North Carolina. That is 19% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Roanoke Rapids?
Homes in North Carolina pay an average of 14.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Roanoke Rapids is about $135.
How much is car insurance in Roanoke Rapids?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,392 a year in North Carolina, or about $116 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Roanoke Rapids?
Median household income in the Roanoke Rapids area is $66,186 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $25,702 a year, or 39% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Roanoke Rapids compare with the rest of North Carolina?
Rent in Roanoke Rapids is 17% below the $1,524 average across the 22 North Carolina cities we track, and its cost of living index of 95 compares with a state average of 95.
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