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Knoxville vs Nashville

Knoxville costs less to buy into: about $478 a month less on the typical home. Nashville has the milder winters.

By Sol Lakein. Updated November 2026.

Knoxville$447,000 · $2,456/moNashville$533,995 · $2,935/mo

Side by side

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

Money

  • Typical home for sale1
    Knoxville
    Lower$447,000
    Nashville
    $533,995
  • Monthly mortgage on it2
    Knoxville
    Lower$2,456
    Nashville
    $2,935
  • 2-bedroom rent3
    Knoxville
    Lower$1,452
    Nashville
    $1,666
  • Price per square foot1
    Knoxville
    Lower$234
    Nashville
    $259
  • Everyday prices4
    Knoxville
    Lower7% below avg
    Nashville
    4% below avg
  • Housing costs4
    Knoxville
    Lower17% below avg
    Nashville
    5% above avg
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York4
    Knoxville
    $123,356
    Nashville
    $128,379

Weather

  • January low5
    Knoxville
    30°F
    Nashville
    Milder30.1°F
  • July high5
    Knoxville
    Cooler88.4°F
    Nashville
    90.9°F
  • Snow per year5
    Knoxville
    4.6 in
    Nashville
    4.7 in

Trips home and more

  • Nonstop to New York6
    Knoxville
    Yes, TYS
    Nashville
    Yes, BNA
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257
    Knoxville
    No data
    Nashville
    +16,967
  • Average commute, one way8
    Knoxville
    Shorter25 min
    Nashville
    28 min
  • Pays you to move9
    Knoxville
    No program
    Nashville
    No program
See it as one table, with sources
MeasureKnoxvilleNashvilleSource
Typical home for sale$447,000$533,995Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
Monthly mortgage on it$2,456$2,935Principal and interest, 20% down, 7.32%
2-bedroom rent$1,452$1,666Census ACS 2025, incl. utilities
Price per square foot$234$259Realtor.com via FRED
Everyday prices7% below avg4% below avgBEA regional price parities, 2024
Housing costs17% below avg5% above avgBEA, 2024
Salary that matches $150,000 in New York$123,356$128,379BEA price parities, 2024
January low30°F30.1°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
July high88.4°F90.9°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Snow per year4.6 in4.7 inNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Nonstop to New YorkYes, TYSYes, BNAAirport route pages, October 2026
Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-25No data+16,967US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
Average commute, one way25 min28 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 Knoxville 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
  • Cooler summers
  • A shorter commute
Cost of living in Knoxville

Pick Nashville if you want

  • Milder winters
Cost of living in Nashville

More comparisons

Knoxville vs Nashville: questions people ask

Is Knoxville or Nashville cheaper?

Knoxville has the lower median listed home ($447,000 against $533,995, Realtor.com via FRED). On a mortgage for each median home that is about $478 a month less in principal and interest. Everyday prices: 92.6 in Knoxville, 96.3 in Nashville (BEA, 2024, US = 100).

Which has milder winters, Knoxville or Nashville?

Nashville. January lows average 30°F in Knoxville and 30.1°F in Nashville (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

What changes if I move from Knoxville to Nashville?

The monthly payment on the median listed home goes from $2,456 to $2,935, and a salary of $100,000 in Knoxville buys what about $104,072 buys in Nashville (Realtor.com via FRED; BEA regional price parities, 2024). Moving the other way, from Nashville to Knoxville, reverses both numbers.

Is it better to live in Knoxville or Nashville?

Knoxville comes out ahead on lower home prices, a smaller monthly payment, lower rent. Nashville comes out ahead on milder winters. 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