City comparison
Austin, TX vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Austin, TX are 13.4% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $113,400 in Austin, TX to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,562 a month in Austin, TX versus $818 in Kingsport, TN. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Austin, TX and 12% in Kingsport, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Kingsport, TN ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.3% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,152 in Kingsport | $113,441 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.4%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Austin, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Kingsport, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Austin → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | +10.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | +10.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | +10.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | +10.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | +10.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $58,130 | $65,943 (+7.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $115,310 | $130,808 (−2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $75,940 | $86,147 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $76,730 | $87,043 (−11.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.