Bristol city, VA at a glance
Median household income
$50,404$4,200 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Bristol city, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Bristol city, VA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $720 | $8,640 | $28,800 | 17.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $818 | $9,816 | $32,720 | 19.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,044 | $12,528 | $41,760 | 24.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,338 | $16,056 | $53,520 | 31.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,464 | $17,568 | $58,560 | 34.9% |
What a typical income covers in Bristol city, VA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $50,404 a year ($4,200 a month before tax).
What $50,404 leaves after Virginia taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Virginia tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Virginia
Living in Bristol city, VA: common questions
What is the median household income in Bristol city, VA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Bristol city, VA is $50,404 per year (approximately $4,200 per month).
What is the average rent in Bristol city, VA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $720 for a studio, $818 for one bedroom, $1,044 for two, $1,338 for three and $1,464 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Bristol city, VA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Bristol city, VA?
To keep a $1,044 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $41,760 a year, or $3,480 a month. That is 83% of what the typical household in Bristol city, VA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Bristol city, VA?
On the local median income of $50,404 ($4,200 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,100 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,260 for everything else and $840 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,044 takes 50% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Bristol city, VA?
Homes in Virginia paid 17.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $155. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.