What is the cost of living in Knoxville, TN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Knoxville has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Tennessee, Knoxville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Tennessee's index of 94.
The standard of living in Knoxville ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 109 places we measured in Tennessee. By definition, that implies Knoxville ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Volunteer State.
For more reading on life in Knoxville, check out:
Knoxville Cost Of Living Vs. Tennessee
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Knoxville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Knoxville is 93.
The Groceries index in Knoxville is 98.
The Health index in Knoxville is 81.
The Housing index in Knoxville is 94.
The Transportation index in Knoxville is 96.
The Utilities index in Knoxville is 96.
| Living Expense | Knoxville | Tennessee | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 81 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 98 | 100 |
Knoxville 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 Knoxville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Knoxville, 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 Knoxville is $369,216.
The Median Rent in Knoxville is $1,191.
The Median Income in Knoxville is $54,039.
The Home Value To Income in Knoxville is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Knoxville is 0.26x.
Knoxville, TN Costs By Category
Detailed Knoxville Services costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Knoxville Groceries costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Knoxville Health costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Knoxville Transportation costs vs. Tennessee
Knoxville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Knoxville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Knoxville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oak Ridge, TN has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Knoxville.
Maryville, TN has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Knoxville.
Farragut, TN has a cost of living index of 123, 1.4x Knoxville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge, TN | 32,693 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Maryville, TN | 32,392 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Farragut, TN | 24,634 | 123 | 1.4x |
| Seymour, TN | 16,216 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Alcoa, TN | 12,222 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Clinton, TN | 10,239 | 94 | 1.0x |
