Johnson City vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Johnson City
St. Louis
The Verdict
Johnson City is 5.6% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in Johnson City would need approximately $79,412 in St. Louis 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 $79,412 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $70,833 in Johnson City.
Living in Johnson City vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Johnson City's housing index of 66 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $175,000. The $101,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,564 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $461/month in St. Louis. 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 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City and 95 in St. Louis. 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 $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $50,869 respectively. Johnson City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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