Cost of Living in Johnson City, TN
Johnson City, TN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Johnson City, TN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Johnson City, TN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.9 | −12.1% |
| Housing | 63.2 | −36.8% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 71.9 | −28.1% |
| Other services | 95.1 | −4.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Johnson City, TN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $887 | $35,480/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $893 | $35,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,132 | $45,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,398 | $55,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,548 | $61,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Johnson City, TN
- Federal income tax$3,038
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,696
- Medicare (1.45%)$630
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,116
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Johnson City, TN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Johnson City, TN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Johnson City, TN metro area are 87.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 63.2%. It is the #339 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Johnson City, TN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,757 in Johnson City, TN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $43,480.
How much is rent in Johnson City, TN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Johnson City, TN are $887 for a studio, $893 for one bedroom, $1,132 for two bedrooms and $1,398 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Johnson City, TN
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $93,200
- Managers, All Other — $78,540
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $64,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,330
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,180
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $28,370
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $77,660
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $51,480
- Pharmacy Technician — $38,480
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $37,740
- Nursing Assistant — $37,310
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,360
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $27,720
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,800
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,620
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $31,330
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,850
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,070
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $54,440
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,420
- Retail Salesperson — $29,820
- Cashier — $27,160
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,420
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $40,700
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $40,060
- Customer Service Representative — $36,570
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $36,570
- Bill and Account Collector — $36,490
- Office Clerks, General — $36,420
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $41,150
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $49,830
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $44,290
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $43,480
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,670
- Light Truck Driver — $36,850
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $35,930
- Stocker and Order Filler — $32,100