Cost of Living in Tennessee
Updated November 2026 · population 7,066,383
Tennessee prices are 8.1% below the US average (index 91.9), ranking 38th most expensive of 51 states and DC; utilities is the biggest saving at 72.1, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,445 a month.
Prices by category
Tennessee price index by category, US average = 100: All items 91.9, Housing (rents) 79.1, Goods 96.2, Utilities 72.1, Other services 95.1
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Tennessee (whole state) | 91.9 |
| Metropolitan areas of Tennessee | 93.4 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Tennessee | 84.9 |
Cities in Tennessee
Select a column heading to sort.
| Nashville | 690,130 | 97.0 | $2,869 | $5,481 | $1,586 | $413,600 |
| Memphis | 618,980 | 91.3 | $2,332 | $4,694 | $1,181 | $169,000 |
| Knoxville | 195,185 | 93.5 | $2,415 | $4,884 | $1,191 | $239,700 |
| Chattanooga | 185,783 | 92.8 | $2,571 | $4,936 | $1,256 | $283,200 |
| Clarksville | 176,456 | 92.4 | $2,495 | $5,026 | $1,307 | $263,600 |
| Murfreesboro | 161,445 | 95.8 | $2,750 | $5,339 | $1,481 | $402,100 |
| Franklin | 87,133 | 101.0 | $3,317 | $6,081 | $1,923 | $705,400 |
| Johnson City | 72,222 | 90.7 | $2,236 | $4,664 | $1,023 | $268,200 |
| Jackson | 68,435 | 89.5 | $2,233 | $4,578 | $1,145 | $217,800 |
| Hendersonville | 63,091 | 97.8 | $2,832 | $5,620 | $1,653 | $430,700 |
| Bartlett | 56,876 | 96.4 | $2,618 | $5,256 | $1,638 | $310,400 |
| Smyrna | 56,692 | 95.5 | $2,598 | $5,243 | $1,461 | $358,300 |
| Kingsport | 56,262 | 89.2 | $2,061 | $4,429 | $907 | $234,100 |
| Spring Hill | 55,765 | 100.1 | $2,905 | $5,685 | $1,844 | $493,800 |
| Collierville | 51,515 | 97.0 | $2,886 | $5,364 | $1,691 | $485,900 |
| Maryville | 32,392 | 93.0 | $2,310 | $4,885 | $1,157 | $358,100 |
| Loudon | 6,432 | 89.4 | $2,187 | $4,447 | $879 | $244,200 |
| Gatlinburg | 3,663 | 90.7 | $2,488 | $4,646 | $1,098 | $332,000 |
Metro areas in Tennessee
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 96.3 | 104.6 |
| Knoxville, TN | 92.6 | 82.8 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 92.2 | 79.8 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 91.5 | 76.5 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 90.9 | 73.8 |
| Cleveland, TN | 88.1 | 60.3 |
| Johnson City, TN | 87.9 | 63.2 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 86.4 | 56.5 |
| Morristown, TN | 86.4 | 59.0 |
| Jackson, TN | 85.5 | 56.6 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Tennessee.
Modelled monthly budget at Tennessee average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Tennessee (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $867 | $10,404 | 35% |
| Utilities | $225 | $2,700 | 9% |
| Food at home | $271 | $3,252 | 11% |
| Transportation | $588 | $7,056 | 24% |
| Health care | $334 | $4,008 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $160 | $1,920 | 7% |
| Total | $2,445 | $29,340 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Tennessee (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $927 | $11,124 | 24% |
| Utilities | $353 | $4,236 | 9% |
| Food at home | $501 | $6,012 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,163 | $13,956 | 30% |
| Health care | $620 | $7,440 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $316 | $3,792 | 8% |
| Total | $3,880 | $46,560 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Tennessee (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,069 | $12,828 | 23% |
| Utilities | $431 | $5,172 | 9% |
| Food at home | $715 | $8,580 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,549 | $18,588 | 33% |
| Health care | $578 | $6,936 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $408 | $4,896 | 9% |
| Total | $4,750 | $57,000 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
13.42¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +2.5% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the South region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 91.3 | 90.5 | 90.6 | 91.8 | 92.1 | 91.9 |
Change over the period: +0.6 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tennessee an expensive state to live in?
Tennessee has a cost of living index of 91.9 (US = 100), 8.1% below the US average. It ranks 38th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 79.1 (rank 33), goods 96.2, utilities 72.1 and other services 95.1. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Tennessee?
At Tennessee state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,445 for a single adult, $3,880 for a couple and $4,750 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 93.4 and nonmetro areas 84.9.
What is the median rent and home value in Tennessee?
The median gross rent in Tennessee is $1,189 a month and the median home value is $286,700 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 29.5% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 47.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, South region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology