CostIndexUSA

Johnson City, TN vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostTN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
AL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Johnson City and Mobile have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.9%
Johnson City
63.2
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Johnson City
96.2
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Johnson City
99.9
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Johnson City
90.4
Mobile
91.9
Utilities+17.1%
Johnson City
71.9
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$80,200
$200 more needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 87.9) = salary × 1.0023. 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×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Johnson City has 4.9% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

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

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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)

Mobile, AL
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.