CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Long Beach, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
CA
Long Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Knoxville is significantly cheaper than Long Beach — 22.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $98,100 in Long Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+105.8%
Knoxville
82.8
Long Beach
170.4
🛒 Groceries+10.8%
Knoxville
96.2
Long Beach
106.6
🚗 Transportation+9.7%
Knoxville
99.9
Long Beach
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+9.6%
Knoxville
90.4
Long Beach
99.1
Utilities+120.6%
Knoxville
71.9
Long Beach
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Long Beach, CA
$98,100
$18,100 more needed in Long Beach

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.2268. 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×

Long Beach, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Long Beach has 105.8% 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

Long Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
466,742
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingEntertainmentRetail

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)

Long Beach, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.