A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
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 Elizabethton Tennessee National
Cost of living9089100
Goods & Services10094100
Groceries9898100
Health care11088100
Housing6680100
Transportation9289100
Utilities10893100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Elizabethton, TN

The cost of living in Elizabethton 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 Elizabethton is 90, which is 10% 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 Elizabethton Affordable?

Is Elizabethton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Elizabethton, the median home price is 33.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 33.1% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Elizabethton come in at $38,007, which is 31.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Elizabethton?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Elizabethton, healthcare costs are 9.7% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Elizabethton comes in at 7.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Elizabethton cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Elizabethton is 1% higher than the Tennessee average
  • The cost of living in Elizabethton is 10% lower than the national average
  • Elizabethton housing is 34% lower than the national average
  • Tennessee general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Elizabethton

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Compare Elizabethton, TN 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$51,235$4,270$1,195$1,537
      Renters$28,525$2,377$666$856
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Elizabethton is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Elizabethton has a median income of about $51,235 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,195 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $28,525. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $666 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Tennessee Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Tennessee 7% 9.75%

      Tennessee Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Tennessee 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.00$24.2615.4%
      Beauty Salon $48.22$45.565.8%
      Toothpaste $3.80$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.283.6%
      Movie $13.07$12.137.7%
      Bowling $15.89$18.0011.7%

      Groceries

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.47$5.8410.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.0%
      Milk $4.61$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $5.27$4.936.7%
      Pizza $10.44$12.0913.6%
      Beer $10.44$10.410.3%

      Health Care

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $155.11$125.6823.4%
      Doctor $166.73$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $113.89$113.290.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.57$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $509.86$468.608.8%

      Housing

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $122,000.00$184,700.0033.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,256.40$2,346.693.8%
      Apartment Rent $635.00$949.0033.1%

      Transportation

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.29$3.465.0%
      Tire Balancing $49.99$59.9216.6%

      Utilities

      Item Elizabethton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.84$193.9914.4%
      Phone $186.82$192.252.8%
      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.
      Banner Hill, TN1,3968713.1%
      Bluff City, TN2,0938416.0%
      Elk Park, NC4958910.6%
      Central, TN1,9269010.3%
      Erwin, TN5,910909.8%
      Elizabethton, TN13,5689010.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Monroe, GA13,568937.2%
      Ardmore, PA13,56712625.9%
      Levelland, TX13,5668416.1%
      Vadnais Heights, MN13,5651065.9%
      South Glengarry, ON13,573n/a 
      Elizabethton, TN13,5689010.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.