Kingsport, TN at a glance
Median household income
$52,490$4,374 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kingsport, TN?
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 Kingsport, TN? 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 | 16.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $818 | $9,816 | $32,720 | 18.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,044 | $12,528 | $41,760 | 23.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,338 | $16,056 | $53,520 | 30.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,464 | $17,568 | $58,560 | 33.5% |
What a typical income covers in Kingsport, TN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $52,490 a year ($4,374 a month before tax).
What $52,490 leaves after Tennessee taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Tennessee tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Tennessee
Living in Kingsport, TN: common questions
What is the median household income in Kingsport, TN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kingsport, TN is $52,490 per year (approximately $4,374 per month).
What is the average rent in Kingsport, TN?
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 Kingsport, TN 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 Kingsport, TN?
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 80% of what the typical household in Kingsport, TN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kingsport, TN?
On the local median income of $52,490 ($4,374 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,187 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,312 for everything else and $875 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,044 takes 48% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kingsport, TN?
Homes in Tennessee paid 14.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $127. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.