CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Knoxville is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $82,100 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+0.8%
Knoxville
82.8
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Knoxville
96.2
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Knoxville
99.9
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Knoxville
90.4
Lansing
94.6
Utilities+32.8%
Knoxville
71.9
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0259. 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×

Lansing, MI

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

Lansing has 0.8% 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

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).

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.