Cost of Living

The Knoxville region's cost of living is 18% below the national average, with housing at 28% below the national average a major factor.

 

Knoxville MSA

City State Composite Grocery Items Housing Utilities Transpor-tation Health Care Misc. Goods & Services
Knoxville TN 81.7 84.4 70.2 95 85.8 86 85.4
                 
Atlanta GA 101.8 99.6 106.2 87 100.1 109.1 102.4
Charlotte NC 97 99.6 85.2 94 95.1 107.6 106
Chattanooga TN 96.7 96.9 103.6 89.9 91.9 100.2 93.4
Chicago IL 123.2 102.7 156.9 93 125.6 101.8 112.4
Cincinnati OH 95.2 93.3 81.5 95 100.3 100.1 105.6
Cleveland OH 98 111.8 84.4 99.7 101.1 100.9 102.4
Columbia SC 97.2 109.2 76.7 124 92.1 91.6 105.1
Columbus OH 90.8 95.9 77.4 87.3 92.7 92.2 100.3
Dallas TX 105.4 107 106.3 105.8 98.4 105.4 105.9
Detroit MI 95.1 89 92.3 92.7 107.1 93.8 97.3
Huntsville AL 93.5 93.4 74 96.2 93.4 100.8 108.4
Lexington KY 94.2 88.5 89.3 93.1 98.8 87.8 100.4
Little Rock AR 97.3 94.9 88.6 95.5 99.1 87.4 106.8
Los Angeles CA 148.2 112.1 237.2 109.6 118.9 107.5 109.8
Louisville KY 93.3 88.8 78.5 92 101.2 97.8 105.1
Memphis TN 80.6 89.3 68.5 96.2 85.4 78 82.4
Montgomery AL 90.7 99.3 81.3 103.8 94.2 84.2 91.9
Nashville TN 99.2 95.3 93.1 96.6 95 84 109.4
Newark NJ 123.5 106.1 158.7 107.5 110.4 103.3 110.6
Oklahoma City OK 84.6 92.2 71.9 94.4 85.9 93 88.6
Philadelphia PA 113.4 116.7 124.3 107.4 113.9 103.5 105.5
Pittsburgh PA 99.1 107.7 95.2 107.7 109.2 92.3 95
Richmond VA 94.9 86.7 88.2 96.4 92.8 115.6 101.2
St. Louis MO 87.8 102 69.3 102.4 94 94.7 91.7

Source:  Cost of Living Index, Council for Community and Economic Research, 2018 Annual Average Data