CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Montgomery, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Montgomery is slightly cheaper than Knoxville — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $77,500 in Montgomery. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.3%
Knoxville
82.8
Montgomery
64.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Knoxville
96.2
Montgomery
96.4
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Knoxville
99.9
Montgomery
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Knoxville
90.4
Montgomery
91.9
Utilities+18.1%
Knoxville
71.9
Montgomery
84.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Montgomery, AL
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Montgomery

Formula: salary × (89.7 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9687. 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×

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Knoxville has 22.3% lower housing costs compared to Montgomery.

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

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

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)

Montgomery, AL
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.