Dublin vs Johnson City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dublin
Johnson City
The Verdict
Johnson City is 22.4% less expensive than Dublin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dublin would need approximately $61,298 in Johnson City to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Dublin has the same purchasing power as $61,298 in Johnson City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Johnson City equals $91,765 in Dublin.
Living in Dublin vs Johnson City
Housing Costs
Dublin's housing index of 128 is higher Johnson City's 66, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $276,000. The $194,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,612 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Dublin compared to $1,025/mo in Johnson City, a monthly difference of $1,100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Dublin and 95 in Johnson City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Dublin vs $451/month in Johnson City. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 110 in Dublin and 95 in Johnson City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Dublin vs $380 in Johnson City. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 82 in Dublin and 94 in Johnson City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,000 in Dublin and $55,400 in Johnson City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,846 and $65,176 respectively. Johnson City residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,307/month to housing in Dublin vs $1,293/month in Johnson City. In Dublin, median rent of $2,125/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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