Johnson City vs Lowell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Johnson City
Lowell
The Verdict
Johnson City is 35.1% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Johnson City would need approximately $115,588 in Lowell 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 Johnson City has the same purchasing power as $115,588 in Lowell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $48,664 in Johnson City.
Living in Johnson City vs Lowell
Housing Costs
Johnson City's housing index of 66 is lower Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $429,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $900.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $494/month in Lowell. Johnson City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Johnson City and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $604 in Lowell. 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 94 in Johnson City and 118 in Lowell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 24-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,400 in Johnson City and $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $60,840 respectively. Johnson City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,860/month in Lowell. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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