City Comparison

Johnson City vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Johnson City

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

10.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.4%, with Toledo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Johnson City has equivalent purchasing power to $67,941 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
66
Johnson City
55
Toledo
Groceries
95
Johnson City
98
Toledo
Utilities
95
Johnson City
92
Toledo
Transportation
88
Johnson City
101
Toledo
Healthcare
94
Johnson City
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Johnson City has the same purchasing power as $67,941 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $82,792 in Johnson City.

Living in Johnson City vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Johnson City's housing index of 66 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $128,000. The $148,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,624 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $54,805 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 $985/month in Toledo. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 10.4% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Johnson City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,941 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Johnson City's housing index is 66 with median homes at $276,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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