CostIndexUSA

Kingsport, TN vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Kingsport
86.4
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Kingsport is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 11.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kingsport, you would need $89,300 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+65.0%
Kingsport
56.5
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kingsport
96.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+2.5%
Kingsport
100.6
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Kingsport
91
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+15.8%
Kingsport
75.9
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$89,300
$9,300 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 86.4) = salary × 1.1157. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kingsport, TN

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 65.0% higher housing costs compared to Kingsport.

Income & Job Market

Kingsport, TN

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

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

Kingsport, TN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.