Cost of Living in Tennessee

Avg Index: 86

65 cities · Updated March 2026

$1,198
Avg Rent / Month
$73,681
Avg Income
$286,938
Avg Home Value
86
Avg Cost Index
0%
Income Tax
7.0%
Sales Tax
Cheapest in Tennessee
Union
Index: 49 · Rent: $732/mo
Most Expensive in Tennessee
Brentwood
Index: 217 · Rent: $2,497/mo

Tennessee Cost of Living Overview

Tennessee is significantly more affordable than the national average, with a state-wide cost index of 86. The average monthly rent across Tennessee cities is $1,198, with median household incomes averaging $73,681 per year. The cheapest city is Union (index 49) and the most expensive is Brentwood (index 217).

Tennessee has no state income tax, making it attractive for high earners. However, the 7.0% sales tax and 0.64% property tax rate offset some of those savings.

All 65 Cities in Tennessee — Ranked by Cost

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive (US average = 100)

#CityCost Index RentIncomeHome ValuePopulation
1 Union 49 $732/mo $45,523 $138,400 11,040
2 McMinnville 50 $756/mo $43,348 $147,200 13,765
3 Paris 50 $763/mo $39,365 $142,700 10,313
4 Elizabethton 52 $751/mo $44,834 $159,700 14,364
5 Lawrenceburg 53 $768/mo $41,458 $158,100 11,732
6 Dyersburg 54 $759/mo $51,846 $170,900 16,075
7 Bristol 56 $764/mo $55,007 $182,500 27,490
8 Greeneville 56 $680/mo $51,516 $210,700 15,531
9 Morristown 56 $855/mo $44,811 $155,700 30,983
10 Martin 57 $808/mo $41,510 $177,700 10,864
11 Athens 59 $807/mo $53,151 $197,300 14,250
12 Lewisburg 60 $859/mo $52,634 $183,400 12,607
13 Kingsport 61 $843/mo $50,436 $203,000 55,807
14 Clinton 62 $858/mo $64,005 $204,700 10,141
15 Crossville 63 $827/mo $50,672 $230,300 12,265
16 Manchester 65 $897/mo $55,019 $215,700 12,651
17 Tullahoma 66 $866/mo $60,855 $228,800 20,672
18 Lenoir 67 $913/mo $60,480 $214,300 10,681
19 Millington 67 $1,059/mo $51,695 $172,800 11,117
20 Memphis 68 $1,123/mo $51,211 $157,100 629,063
21 Shelbyville 69 $935/mo $52,290 $224,700 24,125
22 Cookeville 70 $885/mo $48,501 $263,800 35,544
23 Johnson 70 $957/mo $55,429 $238,000 71,455
24 Alcoa 71 $1,057/mo $60,049 $232,300 11,635
25 East Ridge 71 $1,112/mo $55,988 $182,500 22,034
26 Hartsville/Trousdale County, Tennessee 71 $805/mo $63,190 $284,100 11,805
27 Jackson 71 $1,094/mo $51,552 $195,000 68,098
28 Soddy-Daisy 71 $996/mo $67,824 $241,400 13,117
29 Cleveland 72 $966/mo $55,904 $241,800 48,185
30 Knoxville 74 $1,116/mo $50,994 $214,000 193,721
31 Sevierville 74 $1,000/mo $55,106 $264,000 18,105
32 Oak Ridge 75 $1,076/mo $71,000 $233,500 32,088
33 Dickson 76 $999/mo $69,074 $263,100 16,246
34 Red Bank 77 $1,118/mo $61,788 $246,100 11,960
35 Springfield 77 $1,107/mo $58,741 $235,200 18,985
36 Columbia 79 $1,092/mo $61,204 $261,700 43,971
37 Portland 80 $1,100/mo $72,380 $256,400 13,325
38 Chattanooga 81 $1,155/mo $61,028 $259,200 182,832
39 Powell 82 $1,153/mo $85,281 $264,500 13,544
40 Clarksville 83 $1,215/mo $66,786 $236,100 171,897
41 Middle Valley 86 $1,255/mo $93,264 $277,400 11,808
42 Maryville 88 $1,149/mo $79,340 $310,600 32,196
43 Atoka 92 $1,279/mo $86,922 $283,500 10,237
44 Seymour 94 $1,530/mo $85,240 $262,800 15,914
45 Lebanon 97 $1,210/mo $71,320 $359,300 41,951
46 Gallatin 98 $1,299/mo $73,589 $343,700 46,667
47 Smyrna 99 $1,366/mo $78,409 $326,700 55,066
48 White House 99 $1,362/mo $87,315 $311,200 13,875
49 Collegedale 100 $1,435/mo $64,905 $332,700 11,185
50 Goodlettsville 102 $1,370/mo $65,898 $355,000 17,598
51 Bartlett 104 $1,658/mo $100,660 $283,700 56,998
52 La Vergne 104 $1,714/mo $80,418 $273,700 38,944
53 Murfreesboro 105 $1,376/mo $76,241 $365,100 157,547
54 Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee 110 $1,486/mo $75,197 $383,100 684,298
55 Hendersonville 115 $1,552/mo $91,503 $396,500 62,390
56 Lakeland 119 $1,611/mo $113,843 $373,800 14,068
57 Collierville 129 $1,574/mo $134,319 $458,300 51,212
58 Mount Juliet 131 $1,875/mo $107,847 $423,000 40,828
59 Spring Hill 131 $1,738/mo $106,658 $452,400 53,585
60 Germantown 133 $1,760/mo $144,799 $441,200 40,812
61 Arlington 134 $2,046/mo $125,909 $367,700 14,989
62 Farragut 134 $1,691/mo $142,402 $513,100 24,309
63 Franklin 158 $1,861/mo $115,000 $646,300 85,575
64 Nolensville 192 $2,557/mo $170,068 $695,100 14,545
65 Brentwood 217 $2,497/mo $184,720 $926,700 45,272

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cost of living in Tennessee

What is the cost of living in Tennessee?
The average cost of living index across 65 cities in Tennessee is 86 (US average = 100). Average rent is $1,198/month and median household income averages $73,681/year.
What is the cheapest city in Tennessee?
The cheapest city in Tennessee is Union with a cost index of 49, median rent of $732/month, and median income of $45,523/year.
What is the most expensive city in Tennessee?
The most expensive city in Tennessee is Brentwood with a cost index of 217, median rent of $2,497/month, and median income of $184,720/year.
What are taxes like in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a top income tax rate of 0%, a sales tax of 7.0%, and an effective property tax rate of 0.64%. There is no state income tax.
How many cities does CostToLive cover in Tennessee?
We track cost of living data for 65 cities in Tennessee with populations of 10,000 or more, using US Census Bureau ACS 2023 data.