CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $77,900 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.5%
Knoxville
82.8
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Knoxville
96.2
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation1.4%
Knoxville
99.9
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare1.4%
Knoxville
90.4
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities+24.2%
Knoxville
71.9
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9741. 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×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Knoxville has 13.5% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.