CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Chattanooga is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $83,100 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+9.0%
Chattanooga
76.6
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Chattanooga
96
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Chattanooga
100.1
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Chattanooga
90.5
Lansing
94.6
Utilities+28.7%
Chattanooga
74.2
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Chattanooga to see what you'd need to earn in Lansing to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$83,100
$3,100 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0383. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lansing has 9.0% higher housing costs compared to Chattanooga.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.