City Comparison

Johnson City vs Odessa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Johnson City

Tennessee
85
Very Affordable
$276,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$55,400
Median Income

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

The Verdict

0.0%

Living in Johnson City costs 0.0% less than Odessa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Johnson City, you would need $75,000 in Odessa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
66
Johnson City
72
Odessa
Groceries
95
Johnson City
96
Odessa
Utilities
95
Johnson City
100
Odessa
Transportation
88
Johnson City
93
Odessa
Healthcare
94
Johnson City
96
Odessa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Johnson City has the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Odessa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Odessa equals $75,000 in Johnson City.

Living in Johnson City vs Odessa

Housing Costs

Johnson City's housing index of 66 is lower Odessa's 72, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $223,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $1,150/mo in Odessa, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 96 in Odessa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $456/month in Odessa. 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 95 in Johnson City and 100 in Odessa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $400 in Odessa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City and 96 in Odessa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,400 in Johnson City and $73,500 in Odessa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $86,471 respectively. Odessa residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,715/month in Odessa. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Johnson City is 0.0% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Johnson City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,000 in Odessa, based on the cost of living difference.
Johnson City's housing index is 66 with median homes at $276,000, while Odessa's is 72 with median homes at $223,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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