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 $2,185 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,040 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,333 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,257 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,481 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,475 in Kingsport, TN, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 7% more than Kingsport, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Kingsport, TN sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 62%, Kingsport, TN by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.29 $15.29

$17.97 $17.97

-14.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$49.17 $49.17

19.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 $8.20

$10.16 $10.16

-19.29%

Cappuccino

$4.35 $4.35

$4.68 $4.68

-7.05%

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

$2.12 $2.12

$2.54 $2.54

-16.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.95 $1.95

7.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.03 $3.03

62.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$7.79 $7.79

-8.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.92 $0.92

-15.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.22 $2.22

49.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$4.32 $4.32

-12.73%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$3.87 $3.87

-15.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 $10.53

$17.28 $17.28

-39.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.46 $9.46

$6.03 $6.03

56.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$14.30 $14.30

7.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$5.59 $5.59

-15.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.54 $1.54

-11.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$6.37 $6.37

-37.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.11 $4.11

22.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.78 $3.78

-45.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.73 $2.73

10.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.73 $1.73

3.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.90 $1.90

-23.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$8.15 $8.15

13.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 $15.13

$9.96 $9.96

51.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.71 $1.71

16.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.14 $3.14

-43.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.05 $2.05

-0.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 $79.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.03 $3.03

22.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.39 $2.39

-46.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.31 $25.31

$30.41 $30.41

-16.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.79 $0.79

12.66%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$17.0K $17.0K

107.76%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

-1.28%

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

$118 $118

$143 $143

-17.35%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$48.50 $48.50

18.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 $56.0

$70.3 $70.3

-20.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 $31.33

$41.88 $41.88

-25.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.98 $8.98

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 $13.85

$12.74 $12.74

8.71%

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

$1,585 $1,585

$917 $917

72.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

-28.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.79 $40.79

$49.44 $49.44

-17.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.59 $40.59

$35.91 $35.91

13.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 $88.9

$105 $105

-15.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$157 $157

-34.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 $1,473

$1,085 $1,085

35.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 $1,059

$943 $943

12.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,887 $2,887

$2,433 $2,433

18.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,944 $1,944

$1,894 $1,894

2.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,522 $3,522

$1,853 $1,853

90.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,068 $2,068

$1,857 $1,857

11.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,056 $4,056

$3,121 $3,121

29.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.51

0.46%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: April 11, 2026

Last update for Kingsport, TN: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,473 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,085 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 30% 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 $59 in Cincinnati, OH versus $49 in Kingsport, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $348 in Cincinnati, OH vs $354 in Kingsport, TN – so Cincinnati, OH wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $2,185 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,040 in Kingsport, TN – roughly 7% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,277 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,061 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 $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH and $49.00 in Kingsport, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $2,040, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,185. 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.