A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
29%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bristol Virginia National
Cost of living86109100
Goods & Services93100100
Groceries95101100
Health care8899100
Housing71130100
Transportation8295100
Utilities99104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bristol, VA

The cost of living in Bristol affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Bristol is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Bristol Affordable?

Is Bristol affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Bristol, the median home price is 30.8% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 25% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Bristol boasting a median household income of $39,679, 28.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bristol?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Bristol, the healthcare costs are 11.7% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Bristol, the transportation index is 18% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Bristol, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.3%, and the income tax rates commence at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Bristol cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bristol is 21% lower than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Bristol is 14% lower than the national average
  • Bristol housing is 29% lower than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bristol

See all the best places to live around Bristol

Compare Bristol, VA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$50,945$4,245$1,189$1,529
      Renters$27,064$2,255$631$812
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Bristol, VA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Bristol, homeowners have a median income of $50,945. Using that number, a maximum of $1,189 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $27,064, which means there is a maximum of $631 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Virginia 5.3% 6%

      Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Virginia 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.91$24.261.4%
      Beauty Salon $45.13$45.560.9%
      Toothpaste $3.58$3.703.4%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.287.3%
      Movie $14.09$12.1316.1%
      Bowling $19.33$18.007.4%

      Groceries

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.20$5.846.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.66$1.575.3%
      Milk $4.67$4.670.0%
      Potatoes $5.02$4.931.7%
      Pizza $11.91$12.091.5%
      Beer $9.97$10.414.2%

      Health Care

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $87.33$125.6830.5%
      Doctor $108.51$135.7820.1%
      Dentist $96.95$113.2914.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.49$10.651.5%
      Lipitor $471.32$468.600.6%

      Housing

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      Home Price $127,900.00$184,700.0030.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,808.85$2,346.6922.9%
      Apartment Rent $712.00$949.0025.0%

      Transportation

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.08$3.4610.9%
      Tire Balancing $51.47$59.9214.1%

      Utilities

      Item Bristol National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $161.17$193.9916.9%
      Phone $192.18$192.250.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bluff City, TN2,0938416.0%
      Nickelsville, VA3598514.7%
      Oak Grove CDP (Sumner County), TN2158613.9%
      Walnut Hill, TN2,5348613.6%
      Bristol, TN26,9738713.1%
      Bristol, VA17,0598614.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Pleasant, TX17,0588812.1%
      Winder, GA17,054963.7%
      East Cleveland, OH17,0478020.0%
      Selwyn, ON17,047n/a 
      Camano, WA17,07313837.9%
      Bristol, VA17,0598614.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.