What is the cost of living in Bristol, TN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bristol has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Tennessee, Bristol has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Tennessee's index of 94.
The standard of living in Bristol ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 109 places we measured in Tennessee. By definition, that implies Bristol ranks as the #62 most expensive place in the Volunteer State.
For more reading on life in Bristol, check out:
Bristol Cost Of Living Vs. Tennessee
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bristol. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bristol is 97.
The Groceries index in Bristol is 100.
The Health index in Bristol is 75.
The Housing index in Bristol is 97.
The Transportation index in Bristol is 98.
The Utilities index in Bristol is 97.
| Living Expense | Bristol | Tennessee | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 98 | 100 |
Bristol Cost Of Living Compared To Tennessee Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Tennessee, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Bristol Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bristol, TN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Tennessee, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bristol is $234,603.
The Median Rent in Bristol is $842.
The Median Income in Bristol is $58,162.
The Home Value To Income in Bristol is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bristol is 0.17x.
Bristol, TN Costs By Category
Detailed Bristol Services costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Bristol Groceries costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Bristol Health costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Bristol Transportation costs vs. Tennessee
Bristol SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bristol
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bristol. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kingsport, TN has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Bristol.
Bristol, VA has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Bristol.
Elizabethton, TN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Bristol.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport, TN | 56,262 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Bristol, VA | 16,849 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Elizabethton, TN | 14,374 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Bloomingdale, TN | 9,292 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Abingdon, VA | 8,330 | 95 | 1.0x |
