Jonesboro Johnson City

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 85.9 → 87.9
Rent Delta: +$92/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $92/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Jonesboro to Johnson City shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 85.9 to 87.9 (100 = US average), so a Jonesboro salary needs to be multiplied by 1.02 to hold the same purchasing power in Johnson City. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,040/month in Jonesboro to $1,132/month in Johnson City - a higher monthly bill of $92, or $1,104/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $55,412 in Jonesboro versus $57,056 in Johnson City - a raw gap of $1,644 higher. The Johnson City labor market has 74,580 tracked jobs against 55,350 in Jonesboro, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Jonesboro and Johnson City are 580 and 602 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 13.6:1 at origin versus 15.3:1 at destination. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Jonesboro
Johnson City
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 85.9
RPP 87.9
Jonesboro
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,040/mo
$1,132/mo
Jonesboro
💼 Wages
$55,412
$57,056
Johnson City
🔒 Crime
580 per 100K
602 per 100K
Jonesboro
🎓 Schools
13.6:1
15.3:1
Jonesboro
👶 Childcare
N/A
$7,860/yr
Tie
🌿 Environment
5811 violations
1091 violations
Johnson City

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Johnson City
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johnson City more expensive than Jonesboro?
Johnson City has an RPP of 87.9 compared to Jonesboro's 85.9 (100 = national average). Johnson City is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Johnson City is $1,132/mo vs $1,040/mo in Jonesboro.
What are salaries like in Johnson City compared to Jonesboro?
The median salary in Johnson City is $57,056 compared to $55,412 in Jonesboro. That's a +$1,644 difference.
Is Johnson City safer than Jonesboro?
The violent crime rate near Johnson City is 602 per 100K vs 580 per 100K near Jonesboro (state-level data). Jonesboro has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Johnson City to match my Jonesboro salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Jonesboro salary by 1.02. For example, a $75,000 salary in Jonesboro would need to be $76,792 in Johnson City. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)