Kingsport, TN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Kingsport, TN Summary

Cost of living in Kingsport research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Kingsport is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Tennessee, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Kingsport is 87, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Kingsport is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Kingsport ranks as the #33 cheapest in Tennessee out of 109.

  • Kingsport ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Kingsport is $253,312.

  • The median income in Kingsport is $50,436.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
87
Kingsport's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Kingsport, TN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kingsport has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Tennessee, Kingsport has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Tennessee's index of 90.

The standard of living in Kingsport ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 109 places we measured in Tennessee. By definition, that implies Kingsport ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Volunteer State.

For more reading on life in Kingsport, check out:

33 out of 109
In Tennessee
777 out of 6,489
In America

Kingsport Cost Of Living Vs. Tennessee

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kingsport. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Kingsport is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Kingsport is 95.

  • The Health index in Kingsport is 86.

  • The Housing index in Kingsport is 79.

  • The Transportation index in Kingsport is 83.

  • The Utilities index in Kingsport is 100.

Living Expense Kingsport Tennessee National Average
Overall 87 90 100
Services 92 93 100
Groceries 95 99 100
Health 86 87 100
Housing 79 81 100
Transportation 83 89 100
Utilities 100 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Tennessee, check out:
Kingsport Cost of Living Vs. TN

Kingsport, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Kingsport is $253,312.

  • The Median Rent in Kingsport is $843.

  • The Median Income in Kingsport is $50,436.

  • The Home Value To Income in Kingsport is 5.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Kingsport is 0.2x.

Statistic Kingsport Tennessee United States
Median Home Value $253,312 $330,598 $303,400
Median Rent $843 $1,122 $1,348
Median Income $50,436 $67,097 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.0x 4.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.2x 0.2x 0.21x
$253,312
Median Home Value
$843
Median Rent
$50,436
Median Income

Kingsport, TN Costs By Category

Detailed Kingsport Services Costs Vs. Tennessee

Item Kingsport Tennessee
Shampoo $1.19 $1.28
Movie $14.09 $12.13
Bowling $19.33 $18
Haircut $23.91 $24.26
Beauty Salon $45.13 $45.56

Detailed Kingsport Groceries Costs Vs. Tennessee

Item Kingsport Tennessee
Ground Beef $6.2 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.66 $1.57
Milk $4.67 $4.67
Potatoes $5.02 $4.93
Pizza $11.91 $12.09
Beer $9.97 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.58 $3.7

Detailed Kingsport Health Costs Vs. Tennessee

Item Kingsport Tennessee
Optometrist $87.33 $125.68
Doctor $108.51 $135.78
Dentist $96.95 $113.29

Detailed Kingsport Transportation Costs Vs. Tennessee

Item Kingsport Tennessee
Gasoline $3.08 $3.46
Tire Balancing $51.47 $59.92

Detailed Kingsport Utilities Costs Vs. Tennessee

Item Kingsport Tennessee
All Electricity $161.17 $193.99
Phone $192.18 $192.25

Kingsport SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
6
Diversity
5
Safety
3
Amenities
8
Education
8
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kingsport

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kingsport. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Bristol, TN has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Kingsport.

  • Bloomingdale, TN has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Kingsport.

  • Church Hill, TN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Kingsport.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Kingsport
Bristol, TN 27,490 88 1.0x
Bloomingdale, TN 8,840 84 1.0x
Church Hill, TN 7,057 89 1.0x
Jonesborough, TN 6,056 94 1.1x
Mount Carmel, TN 5,504 91 1.0x

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