CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Kingsport, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Kingsport
86.4
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Kingsport is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $76,100 in Kingsport. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing23.9%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Kingsport
56.5
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Kingsport
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
100.5
Kingsport
100.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
90.9
Kingsport
91
Utilities+6.6%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Kingsport
75.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baton Rouge to see what you'd need to earn in Kingsport to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Kingsport, TN
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in Kingsport

Formula: salary × (86.4 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9515. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Kingsport, TN

Median Home Price
$235,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
56.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Baton Rouge has 23.9% lower housing costs compared to Kingsport.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Kingsport, TN

Median Household Income
$53,800
Per Capita Income
$30,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
55,442
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareChemicalsRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Kingsport, TN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.