What is the cost of living in Chattanooga, TN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chattanooga has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Tennessee, Chattanooga has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Tennessee's index of 94.
The standard of living in Chattanooga ranks as #75 most affordable out of the 109 places we measured in Tennessee. By definition, that implies Chattanooga ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Volunteer State.
For more reading on life in Chattanooga, check out:
Chattanooga Cost Of Living Vs. Tennessee
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chattanooga. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chattanooga is 95.
The Groceries index in Chattanooga is 96.
The Health index in Chattanooga is 95.
The Housing index in Chattanooga is 96.
The Transportation index in Chattanooga is 96.
The Utilities index in Chattanooga is 95.
| Living Expense | Chattanooga | Tennessee | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 98 | 100 |
Chattanooga Cost Of Living Compared To Tennessee Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Tennessee, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Chattanooga Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chattanooga, TN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Tennessee, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chattanooga is $319,578.
The Median Rent in Chattanooga is $1,256.
The Median Income in Chattanooga is $64,523.
The Home Value To Income in Chattanooga is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chattanooga is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $319,578 | $333,650 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,256 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,523 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Chattanooga, TN Costs By Category
Detailed Chattanooga Services costs vs. Tennessee
| Item | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.57 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.8 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chattanooga Groceries costs vs. Tennessee
| Item | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.02 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chattanooga Health costs vs. Tennessee
| Item | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.61 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chattanooga Transportation costs vs. Tennessee
| Item | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.09 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chattanooga Utilities costs vs. Tennessee
| Item | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.16 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.18 | $192.25 |
Chattanooga SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chattanooga
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chattanooga. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
East Ridge, TN has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Chattanooga.
Soddy-Daisy, TN has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Chattanooga.
Middle Valley, TN has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Chattanooga.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ridge, TN | 22,070 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Soddy-Daisy, TN | 13,231 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Middle Valley, TN | 12,187 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, TN | 12,010 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Collegedale, TN | 11,330 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 10,416 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Signal Mountain, TN | 8,860 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Harrison, TN | 8,011 | 95 | 1.0x |
| South Cleveland, TN | 7,452 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Fairview, GA | 5,302 | 89 | 0.9x |
