Kingsport-Bristol Monroe

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 86.4 → 93.5
Rent Delta: +$282/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $6K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - 7% higher cost of living
  • - $282/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Kingsport-Bristol to Monroe shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 86.4 to 93.5 (100 = US average), so a Kingsport-Bristol salary needs to be multiplied by 1.08 to hold the same purchasing power in Monroe. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,044/month in Kingsport-Bristol to $1,326/month in Monroe - a higher monthly bill of $282, or $3,384/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 $57,656 in Kingsport-Bristol versus $63,524 in Monroe - a raw gap of $5,868 higher. The Monroe labor market has 35,090 tracked jobs against 111,690 in Kingsport-Bristol, 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 Kingsport-Bristol and Monroe are 602 and 431 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 15.3:1 at origin versus 17.5:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,860/year in Kingsport-Bristol versus $7,444/year in Monroe. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Kingsport-Bristol
Monroe
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 86.4
RPP 93.5
Kingsport-Bristol
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,044/mo
$1,326/mo
Kingsport-Bristol
💼 Wages
$57,656
$63,524
Monroe
🔒 Crime
602 per 100K
431 per 100K
Monroe
🎓 Schools
15.3:1
17.5:1
Kingsport-Bristol
👶 Childcare
$7,860/yr
$7,444/yr
Monroe
🌿 Environment
1091 violations
1000 violations
Monroe

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Kingsport-Bristol to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Monroe
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monroe more expensive than Kingsport-Bristol?
Monroe has an RPP of 93.5 compared to Kingsport-Bristol's 86.4 (100 = national average). Monroe is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Monroe is $1,326/mo vs $1,044/mo in Kingsport-Bristol.
What are salaries like in Monroe compared to Kingsport-Bristol?
The median salary in Monroe is $63,524 compared to $57,656 in Kingsport-Bristol. That's a +$5,868 difference.
Is Monroe safer than Kingsport-Bristol?
The violent crime rate near Monroe is 431 per 100K vs 602 per 100K near Kingsport-Bristol (state-level data). Monroe has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Monroe to match my Kingsport-Bristol salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Kingsport-Bristol salary by 1.08. For example, a $75,000 salary in Kingsport-Bristol would need to be $81,112 in Monroe. 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)