CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Lynchburg, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Lynchburg
89.4
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lynchburg is slightly cheaper than Chattanooga — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $78,200 in Lynchburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.6%
Chattanooga
76.6
Lynchburg
63.9
🛒 Groceries+0.8%
Chattanooga
96
Lynchburg
96.8
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Chattanooga
100.1
Lynchburg
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Chattanooga
90.5
Lynchburg
93.7
Utilities+18.3%
Chattanooga
74.2
Lynchburg
87.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lynchburg, VA
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Lynchburg

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9770. 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×

Lynchburg, VA

Median Home Price
$277,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
63.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Chattanooga has 16.6% lower housing costs compared to Lynchburg.

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

Lynchburg, VA

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
82,168
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Lynchburg, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.