An Overview of Cost of Living in Bristol, TN
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bristol? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bristol stands at 87, making it 13% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Bristol?
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Bristol to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 83% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 17% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Bristol Affordable?
Wondering if Bristol is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Bristol, for example, the median home price is 26.5% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 25.3% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Bristol boasting a median household income of $42,067, which is 24% lower than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bristol?
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Bristol, the groceries index registers 4.8% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Bristol starts at 7% and the income tax rates start at 0%.
Where is the Data From?
The Bristol cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.
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