salaryRent is lower than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.1 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 19.1 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $48,520 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Tennessee cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Tennessee. It is number 50 of 114 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Kingsport?
Share of households by yearly income. 17.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Kingsport
| Size | Kingsport | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $664 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $961 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,046 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,154 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Kingsport overall?
Everyday prices in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area are 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Kingsport
Life in Kingsport
What jobs pay in Kingsport
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $133,270 | 10.9% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $118,470 | 12.3% |
| Physician Assistant | $117,490 | 12.4% |
| Software Developer | $115,310 | 12.6% |
| Lawyer | $107,560 | 13.5% |
| Operations Manager | $97,450 | 14.9% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $94,840 | 15.3% |
| Civil Engineer | $87,510 | 16.6% |
| Dental Hygienist | $82,870 | 17.6% |
| Registered Nurse | $76,730 | 19.0% |
| Accountant | $75,940 | 19.2% |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,420 | 22.3% |
| Electrician | $60,070 | 24.2% |
| Plumber | $59,360 | 24.5% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $58,130 | 25.0% |
| Truck Driver | $54,700 | 26.6% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $54,050 | 26.9% |
| HVAC Technician | $48,950 | 29.7% |
| Police Officer | $48,620 | 29.9% |
| Carpenter | $48,340 | 30.1% |
| Firefighter | $44,110 | 33.0% |
| Medical Assistant | $38,040 | 38.3% |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,550 | 38.8% |
| Customer Service Representative | $36,130 | 40.3% |
| Warehouse Worker | $35,300 | 41.2% |
| Restaurant Cook | $34,600 | 42.1% |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,200 | 46.7% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $28,210 | 51.6% |
| Cashier | $27,420 | 53.1% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kingsport?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $411 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $234,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,410 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Kingsport, TN?
Renting in Kingsport costs a median of about $1,213 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Tennessee median is $1,279.
How much do I need to make to live in Kingsport?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $48,520 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Kingsport cheap or expensive?
Kingsport is rated OK: rent takes 25.7% of the typical household income of $56,610. It ranks 50th cheapest of 114 Tennessee cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Kingsport?
The median homeowner in Kingsport pays $1,645 a year in property taxes, about 0.70% of the median home value.
Is Kingsport more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 14% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Kingsport?
The median home value in Kingsport is $234,100, about 4.1 times the typical yearly household income.
56,262 people live in Kingsport. Numbers are typical (middle) values.