salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.4 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 17.9 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $33,720 a year. That is $16 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Virginia. It is number 9 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Bristol?
Share of households by yearly income. 17.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Bristol
| Size | Bristol | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $813 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $434 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $870 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $955 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $809 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Bristol overall?
Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Bristol, so the Virginia figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Bristol
Life in Bristol
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bristol?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $434 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $184,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $18,410 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Bristol, VA?
Renting in Bristol costs a median of about $843 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.
How much do I need to make to live in Bristol?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $33,720 a year, or $16 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Bristol cheap or expensive?
Bristol is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.6% of the typical household income of $54,361. It ranks 9th cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Bristol?
The median homeowner in Bristol pays $1,387 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of the median home value.
Is Bristol more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median home value in Bristol is $184,100, about 3.4 times the typical yearly household income.
16,849 people live in Bristol. Numbers are typical (middle) values.