Cost of Living in Kingsport, TN
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
86.4
U.S. average = 100 · #360 of 387
Median wage
$45,240
all jobs · $3,211/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$818
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Kingsport, TN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Kingsport, TN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.4 | −13.6% |
| Housing | 56.5 | −43.5% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 75.9 | −24.1% |
| Other services | 95.8 | −4.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Kingsport, TN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $720 | $28,800/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $818 | $32,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,044 | $41,760/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,338 | $53,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,464 | $58,560/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Kingsport, TN
Your take-home pay
$38,530
per year · effective tax rate 14.8%
$3,211Monthly
$1,605Twice a month
$1,482Every 2 weeks
$18.52Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,249
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,805
- Medicare (1.45%)$656
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,530
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Kingsport, TN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingsport, TN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area are 86.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 56.5%. It is the #360 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Kingsport, TN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,868 in Kingsport, TN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,240.
How much is rent in Kingsport, TN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Kingsport, TN are $720 for a studio, $818 for one bedroom, $1,044 for two bedrooms and $1,338 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Kingsport, TN
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $132,280
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $99,370
- General and Operations Manager — $97,450
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $87,290
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,940
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,420
- Human Resources Specialist — $64,620
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,990
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,600
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $58,130
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $29,260
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Nurse Practitioner — $118,470
- Registered Nurse — $76,730
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $54,050
- Pharmacy Technician — $37,760
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $38,040
- Nursing Assistant — $37,550
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,760
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $48,620
- Security Guard — $36,270
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,300
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,210
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,020
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,890
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $35,440
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $31,070
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $28,560
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $58,570
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $56,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,410
- Retail Salesperson — $31,200
- Cashier — $27,420
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,690
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $48,360
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $45,670
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $39,890
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $39,850
- Office Clerks, General — $38,030
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $36,800
- Customer Service Representative — $36,130
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $33,940
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $69,610
- Electrician — $60,070
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $55,960
- Construction Laborer — $45,370
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $74,390
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $62,300
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $48,670
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,520
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,820
- Machinist — $57,890
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $55,690
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,160
- Production Workers, All Other — $40,840
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,480
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $58,260
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,700
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,820
- Light Truck Driver — $41,590
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $40,720
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,570
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,760
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $35,300