CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Knoxville — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $72,200 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing48.3%
Knoxville
82.8
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Knoxville
96.2
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Knoxville
99.9
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Knoxville
90.4
Monroe
90.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Knoxville
71.9
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9028. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Knoxville has 48.3% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
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.