CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Lancaster, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Knoxville is moderately cheaper than Lancaster — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $84,900 in Lancaster. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.3%
Knoxville
82.8
Lancaster
93.8
🛒 Groceries+4.7%
Knoxville
96.2
Lancaster
100.7
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Knoxville
99.9
Lancaster
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Knoxville
90.4
Lancaster
92.8
Utilities+49.2%
Knoxville
71.9
Lancaster
107.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lancaster, PA
$84,900
$4,900 more needed in Lancaster

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0616. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
82.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Lancaster has 13.3% higher housing costs compared to Knoxville.

Income & Job Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
190,740
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingTourismGovernment

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Lancaster, PA
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.