What is the cost of living in Bristol, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bristol has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Bristol has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Bristol ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Bristol ranks as the #183 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Bristol, check out:
Bristol Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
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 95.
The Groceries index in Bristol is 100.
The Health index in Bristol is 73.
The Housing index in Bristol is 95.
The Transportation index in Bristol is 100.
The Utilities index in Bristol is 99.
| Living Expense | Bristol | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 104 | 100 |
Bristol Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, 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, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, 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 $201,474.
The Median Rent in Bristol is $801.
The Median Income in Bristol is $50,404.
The Home Value To Income in Bristol is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bristol is 0.19x.
Bristol, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Bristol Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Bristol Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Bristol Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Bristol Transportation costs vs. Virginia
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, 1.1x Bristol.
Bristol, TN has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Bristol.
Boone, NC has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x Bristol.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport, TN | 56,262 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Bristol, TN | 27,636 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Boone, NC | 20,032 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Greeneville, TN | 15,646 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Elizabethton, TN | 14,374 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Bloomingdale, TN | 9,292 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Abingdon, VA | 8,330 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Church Hill, TN | 7,139 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Jonesborough, TN | 6,232 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Erwin, TN | 5,988 | 87 | 1.0x |
