Cost of Living

The Knoxville region's cost of living is 17% below the national average, with housing at 31% 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 83.3 86 68.5 94.3 86.8 92.1 88.9
                 
Atlanta GA 101.1 105 102.8 84.7 102 102 102.3
Charlotte NC 92 98.9 77.4 96.5 92.1 105.3 97.7
Chattanooga TN 93.5 100.6 92.3 91.6 89.2 94.4 93.2
Chicago IL 123.9 107.2 163 92.7 113.6 98.9 113.9
Cincinnati OH 93.3 95.1 79.9 88.1 106.9 99.5 100.4
Cleveland OH 96 103.5 83.3 95.1 99.8 109.7 100.4
Columbia SC 90.6 105.5 71.6 128.4 87.2 73.3 92.7
Columbus OH 91.3 98.1 82.6 85.8 100.4 93.9 94.3
Dallas TX 107.7 99.9 115.9 108 93.2 113.8 107.1
Detroit MI 102.7 99.6 98.8 96.4 106.9 95.6 108.7
Huntsville AL 91.8 96.9 70.1 96.1 96 97.4 104
Lexington KY 93.1 89.4 83.3 102.3 92.6 80.5 101.7
Little Rock AR 95.3 91.9 87.4 95.2 91.8 91.2 104.5
Los Angeles CA 147.7 113.9 228.9 107.9 134.5 110.2 115.7
Louisville KY 94.1 92.3 78.1 96.2 103.1 95.3 104.5
Memphis TN 84.9 88.7 74.1 89.2 85.6 80.9 91.2
Montgomery AL 89.3 96.6 79.3 100 91.3 82.9 91.7
Nashville TN 96.6 100.2 92.3 92.7 94.6 95.3 100.2
Newark NJ 122.4 107.4 155.9 103.2 107.4 97.2 114.1
Oklahoma City OK 86.1 90.8 70.3 95.8 89.5 97.7 91.9
Philadelphia PA 111.7 119.9 116.8 111.3 113.5 100.4 105.6
Pittsburgh PA 104 109 103 116.6 117.3 95.6 97.1
Richmond VA 96.5 92.6 88.2 102 91.7 104.4 103.4
St. Louis MO 88 101.5 71.3 96.5 89.4 89.1 93

Source:  Cost of Living Index, Council for Community and Economic Research, 2020 Annual Average Data