City comparison
Albany, NY vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 15.2% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $115,200 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $818 in Kingsport, TN. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 12% in Kingsport, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Kingsport, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Kingsport, TN ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −13.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.6% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $86,824 in Kingsport | $115,176 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.2%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
100 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Kingsport, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Albany → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +11.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +11.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +11.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +11.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +11.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $58,130 | $66,952 (−15.5%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $115,310 | $132,809 (+3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $75,940 | $87,464 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $76,730 | $88,374 (−11.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.