CostIndexUSA

Johnson City, TN vs Jonesboro, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Jonesboro is slightly cheaper than Johnson City — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Johnson City, you would need $78,200 in Jonesboro. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.9%
Johnson City
63.2
Jonesboro
53.8
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Johnson City
96.2
Jonesboro
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Johnson City
99.9
Jonesboro
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Johnson City
90.4
Jonesboro
90.5
Utilities+4.3%
Johnson City
71.9
Jonesboro
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Johnson City to see what you'd need to earn in Jonesboro to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Jonesboro, AR
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Jonesboro

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 87.9) = salary × 0.9772. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
63.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Johnson City has 14.9% lower housing costs compared to Jonesboro.

Income & Job Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Household Income
$56,800
Per Capita Income
$32,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
68,006
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Johnson City, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.