Eugene vs Johnson City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Eugene
Johnson City
The Verdict
Living in Johnson City costs 35.3% less than Eugene. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Eugene, you would need $55,435 in Johnson City.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Eugene has the same purchasing power as $55,435 in Johnson City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Johnson City equals $101,471 in Eugene.
Living in Eugene vs Johnson City
Housing Costs
Eugene's housing index of 130 is higher Johnson City's 66, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $276,000. The $104,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Eugene compared to $1,025/mo in Johnson City, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Eugene and 95 in Johnson City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Eugene vs $451/month in Johnson City. Johnson City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Eugene and 95 in Johnson City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Eugene vs $380 in Johnson City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Eugene 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 $49,448 in Eugene and $55,400 in Johnson City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,998 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 $1,154/month to housing in Eugene vs $1,293/month in Johnson City. In Eugene, median rent of $1,400/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 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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