Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Etienne and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Etienne and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,498 per month in Saint-Etienne vs $2,142 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,331 per month in Saint-Etienne vs $3,130 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,164 per month in Saint-Etienne vs $4,118 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Saint-Etienne is about 30% cheaper than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Saint-Etienne and Johnson City, TN sit above the global median – Saint-Etienne by 9%, Johnson City, TN by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.52 €15.10

$13.87 $13.87

26.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 €51.1

$55.3 $55.3

7.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.82 €11.91

$10.63 $10.63

30.01%

Cappuccino

$2.19 €1.89

$5.20 $5.20

-57.88%

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

$3.57 €3.08

$2.64 $2.64

35.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 €1.51

$2.05 $2.05

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.18 €4.47

$5.83 $5.83

-11.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 €5.05

$7.56 $7.56

-22.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 €1.20

$1.02 $1.02

37.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 €1.03

$3.59 $3.59

-66.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 €1.92

$3.52 $3.52

-36.65%

Eggs

$3.10 €2.67

$3.12 $3.12

-0.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.00 €15.51

$7.42 $7.42

142.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.82 €10.19

$13.59 $13.59

-13.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.98 €14.64

$12.97 $12.97

30.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 €3.10

$5.19 $5.19

-30.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 €2.38

$1.45 $1.45

90.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 €2.23

$3.94 $3.94

-34.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 €2.57

$3.63 $3.63

-17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 €1.44

$3.40 $3.40

-50.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 €1.53

$3.08 $3.08

-42.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 €1.03

$1.96 $1.96

-39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 €1.16

$2.33 $2.33

-42.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.61 €10.87

$10.02 $10.02

25.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 €8.87

$12.97 $12.97

-20.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 €3.03

$2.42 $2.42

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 €3.09

$3.65 $3.65

-1.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 €1.65

$2.55 $2.55

-25.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.08 €34.55

$37.99 $37.99

5.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 €2.57

$3.03 $3.03

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.14 $30.14

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.80

$0.81 $0.81

158.02%

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

$20.6K €17.8K

$31.4K $31.4K

-34.32%

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

$32.7K €28.2K

$22.0K $22.0K

48.79%

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

$174 €150

$171 $171

1.99%

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

$30.17 €26.01

$66.8 $66.8

-54.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.07 €17.30

$65.7 $65.7

-69.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.85 €27.45

$47.51 $47.51

-32.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 €6.09

$19.63 $19.63

-63.98%

Cinema Ticket

$10.32 €8.90

$12.88 $12.88

-19.88%

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

$1,068 €921

$1,217 $1,217

-12.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K €14.5K

$14.7K $14.7K

14.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 €63.0

$36.75 $36.75

98.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.41 €27.93

$36.54 $36.54

-11.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 €94.1

$96.6 $96.6

13.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 €134

$100 $100

55.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 €476

$1,105 $1,105

-50.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 €321

$934 $934

-60.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 €792

$1,978 $1,978

-53.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 €655

$1,594 $1,594

-52.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,795 €1,547

$2,186 $2,186

-17.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,659 €1,430

$2,161 $2,161

-23.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,306 €1,988

$3,547 $3,547

-35.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.67

5.97

-38.53%

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

Last update for Saint-Etienne: September 6, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $552 in Saint-Etienne versus $1,105 in Johnson City, 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 54% higher in Johnson City, TN, 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 $59.0 in Saint-Etienne versus $55.0 in Johnson City, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in Saint-Etienne vs $368 in Johnson City, TN – so Saint-Etienne 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

Saint-Etienne vs Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,247 per month in Saint-Etienne and $3,214 in Johnson City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint-Etienne, 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 Saint-Etienne and $55.0 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,498 in Saint-Etienne and $2,142 in Johnson City, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saint-Etienne, where all-in costs run around $1,498, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,142. In Saint-Etienne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saint-Etienne – 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 Saint-Etienne. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.