Bristol, VA vs Lenoir, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lenoir, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% lower than Bristol, VA.

Bristol, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,070 / month
Lenoir, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,150 / 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 Bristol, VA and Lenoir, NC 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

Current salary in Bristol, VA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $38.05/month in Lenoir, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,543 in Lenoir, NC

Regional cost estimates: Bristol, VA uses Winston-Salem, NC. Lenoir, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$38.05

Savings

Annual Impact

$457

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.

Bristol, VA

Population:17K

Cost Index:

88.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$210K

Lenoir, NC

Population:18K

Cost Index:

88.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$211K

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Bristol, VA

The Old Dominion State

17K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Lenoir, NC

The Tar Heel State

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bristol, VA vs Lenoir, NC

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.

Category	Bristol, VA	Lenoir, NC	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,122/mo	$2,246/mo	↑ $124more	5.8%
Transportation	$1,330/mo	$1,215/mo	↓ $115less	8.7%
All Utilities	$576/mo	$550/mo	↓ $25.49less	4.4%
Other	$1,741/mo	$1,726/mo	↓ $15.44less	0.9%
Groceries	$1,064/mo	$1,048/mo	↓ $15.33less	1.4%
Healthcare	$666/mo	$676/mo	↑ $9.89more	1.5%

Housing

↑ 5.8%

Bristol, VA

$2,122

Lenoir, NC

$2,246

Difference

$124

Transportation

↓ 8.7%

Bristol, VA

$1,330

Lenoir, NC

$1,215

Difference

$115

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.4%

Bristol, VA

$576

Lenoir, NC

$550

Difference

$25.49

less

Other

↓ 0.9%

Bristol, VA

$1,741

Lenoir, NC

$1,726

Difference

$15.44

less

Groceries

↓ 1.4%

Bristol, VA

$1,064

Lenoir, NC

$1,048

Difference

$15.33

less

Healthcare

↑ 1.5%

Bristol, VA

$666

Lenoir, NC

$676

Difference

$9.89

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$735

To$790

↑ $55.00

1 Bed

From$840

To$910

↑ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,070

To$1,150

↑ $80.00

3 Bed

From$1,370

To$1,400

↑ $30.00

Bristol, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$850/mo

Lenoir, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Bristol, VA

$7,462

Monthly in Lenoir, NC

$38.05

Difference

Home Values

Bristol

Lenoir

$210K

Median Value

$211K

YoY Change

↓ -3%

↑ +51.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.5%

$175K - $244K

Price Range

$211K

Homes in Lenoir are 1% more expensive than Bristol

Calculate payment - Bristol Calculate payment - Lenoir

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.2K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$104

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.8%

Rate difference

Bristol, 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

Lenoir, NC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

North Carolina State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.4%

$44.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,822/month

$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Bristol, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

Lenoir, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Bristol

Lenoir

47 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

57.4%

Good Air Days

46.2%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Bristol, VA to Lenoir, NC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lenoir, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bristol, VA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bristol to Lenoir moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bristol, VA vs Lenoir, NC

How do the cost estimates for Bristol, VA and Lenoir, NC compare?

Lenoir, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% lower than Bristol, 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 Bristol, VA, the model estimates $149,543 in Lenoir, NC. 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 Bristol, VA and Lenoir, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,070/month in Bristol, VA and $1,150/month in Lenoir, NC. 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 North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com