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Chattanooga vs Knoxville

Chattanooga costs less to buy into: about $286 a month less on the typical home. Chattanooga has the milder winters.

By Sol Lakein. Updated November 2026.

Chattanooga$395,000 · $2,171/moKnoxville$447,000 · $2,456/mo

Side by side

The better number in each row is green, with a check mark.

Money

  • Typical home for sale1
    Chattanooga
    Lower$395,000
    Knoxville
    $447,000
  • Monthly mortgage on it2
    Chattanooga
    Lower$2,171
    Knoxville
    $2,456
  • 2-bedroom rent3
    Chattanooga
    Lower$1,313
    Knoxville
    $1,452
  • Price per square foot1
    Chattanooga
    Lower$210
    Knoxville
    $234
  • Everyday prices4
    Chattanooga
    Lower9% below avg
    Knoxville
    7% below avg
  • Housing costs4
    Chattanooga
    Lower23% below avg
    Knoxville
    17% below avg
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York4
    Chattanooga
    $121,884
    Knoxville
    $123,356

Weather

  • January low5
    Chattanooga
    Milder32.4°F
    Knoxville
    30°F
  • July high5
    Chattanooga
    90.5°F
    Knoxville
    Cooler88.4°F
  • Snow per year5
    Chattanooga
    3.6 in
    Knoxville
    4.6 in

Trips home and more

  • Nonstop to New York6
    Chattanooga
    Yes, CHA
    Knoxville
    Yes, TYS
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257
    Chattanooga
    No data
    Knoxville
    No data
  • Average commute, one way8
    Chattanooga
    Shorter25 min
    Knoxville
    25 min
  • Pays you to move9
    Chattanooga
    No program
    Knoxville
    No program
See it as one table, with sources
MeasureChattanoogaKnoxvilleSource
Typical home for sale$395,000$447,000Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
Monthly mortgage on it$2,171$2,456Principal and interest, 20% down, 7.32%
2-bedroom rent$1,313$1,452Census ACS 2025, incl. utilities
Price per square foot$210$234Realtor.com via FRED
Everyday prices9% below avg7% below avgBEA regional price parities, 2024
Housing costs23% below avg17% below avgBEA, 2024
Salary that matches $150,000 in New York$121,884$123,356BEA price parities, 2024
January low32.4°F30°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
July high90.5°F88.4°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Snow per year3.6 in4.6 inNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Nonstop to New YorkYes, CHAYes, TYSAirport route pages, October 2026
Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-25No dataNo dataUS Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
Average commute, one way25 min25 minCensus ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025
Pays you to moveNo programNo programOfficial program pages, October 2026

Which one fits you

Pick Chattanooga if you want

  • Lower home prices
  • A smaller monthly payment
  • Lower rent
  • More space for the money
  • Lower everyday prices
  • Lower housing and rent costs
  • Milder winters
  • A shorter commute
Cost of living in Chattanooga

Pick Knoxville if you want

  • Cooler summers
Cost of living in Knoxville

More comparisons

Chattanooga vs Knoxville: questions people ask

Is Chattanooga or Knoxville cheaper?

Chattanooga has the lower median listed home ($395,000 against $447,000, Realtor.com via FRED). On a mortgage for each median home that is about $286 a month less in principal and interest. Everyday prices: 91.5 in Chattanooga, 92.6 in Knoxville (BEA, 2024, US = 100).

Which has milder winters, Chattanooga or Knoxville?

Chattanooga. January lows average 32.4°F in Chattanooga and 30°F in Knoxville (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

What changes if I move from Chattanooga to Knoxville?

The monthly payment on the median listed home goes from $2,171 to $2,456, and a salary of $100,000 in Chattanooga buys what about $101,208 buys in Knoxville (Realtor.com via FRED; BEA regional price parities, 2024). Moving the other way, from Knoxville to Chattanooga, reverses both numbers.

Is it better to live in Chattanooga or Knoxville?

Chattanooga comes out ahead on lower home prices, a smaller monthly payment, lower rent. Knoxville comes out ahead on cooler summers. The right one depends on which of those matters most to your household.

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Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
  2. 2Monthly mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
  4. 4Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, compared with the US average. Everyday price bars run from 75 to 135 and housing bars from 40 to 160, where the US average is 100.
  5. 5Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
  6. 6Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  7. 7Net move-ins: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.
  8. 8Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table
  9. 9Incentives: official program pages, October 2026.
Sources for this page