Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kingsport, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Kingsport, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,049 in Kingsport, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,221 in Kingsport, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,394 in Kingsport, TN.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kingsport, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Kingsport, TN 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.71 $17.71

11.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$49.23 $49.23

54.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.16 $10.16

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.69 $4.69

16.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.45 $2.45

8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.89 $1.89

10.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.08 $3.08

97.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.81 $7.81

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.24 $2.24

51.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.32 $4.32

-21.76%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.02 $4.02

9.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$16.77 $16.77

-27.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$5.84 $5.84

85.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.14 $14.14

3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.60 $5.60

-11.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.58 $1.58

-4.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$6.41 $6.41

-31.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.94 $3.94

4.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.83 $3.83

-26.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.76 $2.76

3.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.78 $1.78

9.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.94 $1.94

12.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.18 $8.18

9.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.08 $10.08

49.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.78 $1.78

30.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.31 $3.31

3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.07 $3.07

43.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.32 $2.32

-21.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$30.05 $30.05

15.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.74 $0.74

5.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$17.2K $17.2K

50.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 $175

$141 $141

23.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$49.10 $49.10

21.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$71.0 $71.0

-7.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$41.73 $41.73

46.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.17 $13.17

12.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$884 $884

55.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

-8.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$49.25 $49.25

14.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$36.28 $36.28

24.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$103 $103

-17.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$158 $158

-25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,053 $1,053

109.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$932 $932

50.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,460 $2,460

55.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,945 $1,945

37.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,881 $1,881

279.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,875 $1,875

64.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,851 $3,851

32.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kingsport, TN: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,053 in Kingsport, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $49.00 in Kingsport, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $353 per month, with Kingsport, TN cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Kingsport, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingsport, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kingsport, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,053 in Kingsport, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $884 in Kingsport, TN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kingsport, TN – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,049 in Kingsport, TN versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kingsport, TN but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kingsport, TN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Kingsport, TN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kingsport, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.