Johnson City, TN vs Kingsport, TN

Kingsport is moderately more affordable than Johnson City, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Johnson City scores 79 compared to 72 for Kingsport, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Johnson City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Johnson City is $957/month compared to $843/month in Kingsport — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Kingsport is more affordable at $203,000 median vs $238,000.

Median household income in Johnson City is $55,429 compared to $50,436 in Kingsport (+9.9%). The higher salaries in Johnson City partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Johnson City spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, more than the 20.1% in Kingsport.