Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Kingsport, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Kingsport, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,338 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,073 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,476 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,364 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,655 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 13% more than Kingsport, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Kingsport, TN sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 70%, Kingsport, TN by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.15 $15.15

$19.77 $19.77

-23.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.00 $49.00

$59.3 $59.3

-17.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$10.03 $10.03

-2.09%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.30 $5.30

-5.85%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.52 $2.52

-8.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.99 $1.99

-6.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.41 $5.41

$5.03 $5.03

7.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$6.11 $6.11

26.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.95 $0.95

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.70 $2.70

21.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$2.19 $2.19

83.56%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$4.01 $4.01

4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$15.36 $15.36

-15.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.22 $11.22

$8.49 $8.49

32.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.83 $15.83

$17.85 $17.85

-11.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$5.75 $5.75

-2.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.36 $1.36

21.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.79 $4.79

-11.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$6.40 $6.40

-26.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.26 $3.26

-20.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$6.03 $6.03

-47.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.73 $2.73

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.46 $3.46

-44.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$8.11 $8.11

25.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$9.82 $9.82

55.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.62 $1.62

31.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$4.61 $4.61

-34.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 $3.67

$7.12 $7.12

-48.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.33 $2.33

-45.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.50 $24.50

$14.84 $14.84

65.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.79 $0.79

29.11%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.50%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.33%

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

$152 $152

$143 $143

6.18%

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

$77.9 $77.9

$49.04 $49.04

58.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$62.2 $62.2

12.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.20 $34.20

$41.99 $41.99

-18.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.62 $13.62

Cinema Ticket

$14.35 $14.35

$12.14 $12.14

18.20%

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

$1,466 $1,466

$917 $917

59.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K $19.5K

$10.2K $10.2K

92.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$38.37 $38.37

18.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.58 $45.58

$31.53 $31.53

44.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 $82.3

$85.5 $85.5

-3.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$95.7 $95.7

15.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 $1,629

$1,111 $1,111

46.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 $1,053

$902 $902

16.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,164 $3,164

$2,417 $2,417

30.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,827 $1,827

$2,036 $2,036

-10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,401 $3,401

$1,824 $1,824

86.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,140 $2,140

$1,816 $1,816

17.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,175 $4,175

$3,844 $3,844

8.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.04

2.81%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kingsport, TN: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,629 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,111 in Kingsport, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Cincinnati, OH, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH versus $59.0 in Kingsport, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $403 – making Cincinnati, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Cincinnati, OH vs Kingsport, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,073 in Kingsport, TN – roughly 13% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,507 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,110 in Kingsport, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kingsport, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH and $59.0 in Kingsport, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Cincinnati, OH – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kingsport, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,073, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,338. In Kingsport, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kingsport, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kingsport, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cincinnati, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.