CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Kingsport, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Kingsport
86.4
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Kingsport is slightly cheaper than Columbus — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $77,400 in Kingsport. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.7%
Columbus
61.2
Kingsport
56.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbus
96.3
Kingsport
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Columbus
103.5
Kingsport
100.6
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
Columbus
93.6
Kingsport
91
Utilities15.4%
Columbus
89.7
Kingsport
75.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kingsport, TN
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Kingsport

Formula: salary × (86.4 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 0.9675. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Kingsport, TN

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

Columbus has 7.7% lower housing costs compared to Kingsport.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.