Big Stone Gap, VA vs Bolivar, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bolivar, TN has a modeled overall cost index 5.7% lower than Big Stone Gap, VA.

Big Stone Gap, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / month
Bolivar, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Big Stone Gap, VA and Bolivar, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $264/month in Bolivar, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,837 in Bolivar, TN

Regional cost estimates: Big Stone Gap, VA uses Lexington, KY. Bolivar, TN uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$264
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Big Stone Gap, VA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
83.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$133K

Bolivar, TN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$141K

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Big Stone Gap, VA

The Old Dominion State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Bolivar, TN

The Volunteer State

5K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 5K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Big Stone Gap, VA vs Bolivar, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 19.5%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$2,241
Bolivar, TN
$1,804
Difference
$437
less
All Utilities
↑ 15.3%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$522
Bolivar, TN
$601
Difference
$79.65
more
Other
↑ 4.1%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$1,746
Bolivar, TN
$1,818
Difference
$71.77
more
Transportation
↑ 4.3%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$1,294
Bolivar, TN
$1,350
Difference
$55.91
more
Healthcare
↓ 3.5%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$619
Bolivar, TN
$597
Difference
$21.87
less
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Big Stone Gap, VA
$1,077
Bolivar, TN
$1,066
Difference
$11.81
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$770
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$750
To$780
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$940
To$1,020
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,420
↑ $200
Big Stone Gap, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/mo

Bolivar, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Big Stone Gap, VA
$7,236
Monthly in Bolivar, TN
$264
Difference

Home Values

Big Stone Gap
Bolivar
$133K
Median Value
$141K
↓ -0.9%
YoY Change
↓ -3.1%
↑ +33.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.5%

Homes in Bolivar are 6% more expensive than Big Stone Gap

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $8.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$697
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.6%
Rate difference

Big Stone Gap, VA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,718/month
$104.6K

Bolivar, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Big Stone Gap, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%
Property Tax:0.8%

Bolivar, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Big Stone Gap
Bolivar
41 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
79.2%
Good Air Days
34.4%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days

Before moving from Big Stone Gap, VA to Bolivar, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bolivar, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Big Stone Gap, VA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Big Stone Gap to Bolivar moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bolivar, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Big Stone Gap, VA vs Bolivar, TN

How do the cost estimates for Big Stone Gap, VA and Bolivar, TN compare?

Bolivar, TN has a modeled overall cost index 5.7% lower than Big Stone Gap, VA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Big Stone Gap, VA, the model estimates $146,837 in Bolivar, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Big Stone Gap, VA and Bolivar, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $940/month in Big Stone Gap, VA and $1,020/month in Bolivar, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Virginia and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com

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