CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Denver, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Chattanooga is significantly cheaper than Denver — 15.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $92,500 in Denver. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+91.8%
Chattanooga
76.6
Denver
146.9
🛒 Groceries+5.2%
Chattanooga
96
Denver
101
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Chattanooga
100.1
Denver
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Chattanooga
90.5
Denver
94.5
Utilities+18.5%
Chattanooga
74.2
Denver
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Denver, CO
$92,500
$12,500 more needed in Denver

Formula: salary × (105.8 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.1563. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Denver has 91.8% higher housing costs compared to Chattanooga.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Denver, CO
4.6×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.