Nashville vs Knoxville
Nashville, TN · Knoxville, TN
Knoxville is 17% cheaper than Nashville overall.
Home Price
Nashville: $445,000
Knoxville: $285,000
Monthly Rent
Nashville: $1,556/mo
Knoxville: $1,100/mo
COL Index
Nashville: 112
Knoxville: 93
Median Income
Nashville: $72,200
Knoxville: $58,000
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Nashville has the same purchasing power as $83,036 in Knoxville — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Knoxville cost 36% more (-$160,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Knoxville saves you $456/month — $5,472 per year. Median rent: $1,556/mo in Nashville vs $1,100/mo in Knoxville.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Nashville owners pay roughly $3,071/year in property taxes vs $1,967/year in Knoxville. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $72,200 in Nashville and $58,000 in Knoxville. Knoxville residents earn 20% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 27 minutes in Nashville vs 23 minutes in Knoxville. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Nashville to Knoxville, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Nashville | Equivalent in Knoxville | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,518 | -$8,482 |
| $75,000 | $62,277 | -$12,723 |
| $100,000 | $83,036 | -$16,964 |
| $150,000 | $124,554 | -$25,446 |
| $200,000 | $166,071 | -$33,929 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Nashville Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Nashville vs Knoxville: Common Questions
Is Nashville or Knoxville cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Knoxville is cheaper overall. Nashville has a COL index of 112 while Knoxville scores 93 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Nashville and Knoxville?
The median home price in Nashville is $445,000 vs $285,000 in Knoxville — a difference of $160,000 (36%).
What salary do I need in Knoxville to match my Nashville income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Nashville is equivalent to $83,036 in Knoxville in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Knoxville has a lower property tax rate (0.69% vs 0.69%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $1,967/year vs $3,071/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.