City profile
Knoxville, TN cost of living
TN · BLS RPP 91.3
Overall RPP
91.3
US = 100
Housing RPP
74.1
Housing component
Goods RPP
94.4
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,221/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Knoxville, TN sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#64 of 67
-8.7 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-7.1
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#56 of 67
-385/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Knoxville, TN
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Knoxville, TN metro.
Moved in
53,856
people · 29,177 households
Moved out
41,702
people · 23,629 households
Net
+12,154
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#13 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+12,258
median -104 people
Largest flow share
3% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Sevier County, TN 1,608
- Monroe County, TN 686
- Jefferson County, TN 606
- Davidson County, TN 530
- Hamblen County, TN 469
Where residents moved to
- Sevier County, TN 1,263
- Monroe County, TN 1,051
- Jefferson County, TN 755
- Hamilton County, TN 553
- Davidson County, TN 522
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Knoxville, TN?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Knoxville, TN | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,650 | $50,000 x (91.3/100) |
| $75,000 | $68,475 | $75,000 x (91.3/100) |
| $100,000 | $91,300 | $100,000 x (91.3/100) |
| $125,000 | $114,125 | $125,000 x (91.3/100) |
| $150,000 | $136,950 | $150,000 x (91.3/100) |
| $200,000 | $182,600 | $200,000 x (91.3/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Knoxville, TN?
- Knoxville, TN has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 91.3 (US average = 100). It is 8.7% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Knoxville, TN?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $91,300 in Knoxville, TN to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Knoxville, TN?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is approximately $1,221 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Knoxville, TN?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 53,856 people moved into the Knoxville, TN metro and 41,702 moved out — a net gain of roughly 12,154 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Sevier County, TN.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Knoxville, TN, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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