CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Tallahassee, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
FL
Tallahassee
93.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Chattanooga is slightly cheaper than Tallahassee — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $82,100 in Tallahassee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.5%
Chattanooga
76.6
Tallahassee
78.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Chattanooga
96
Tallahassee
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Chattanooga
100.1
Tallahassee
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.8%
Chattanooga
90.5
Tallahassee
93.9
Utilities+17.9%
Chattanooga
74.2
Tallahassee
87.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tallahassee, FL
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Tallahassee

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0262. 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×

Tallahassee, FL

Median Home Price
$273,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
78.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Tallahassee has 2.5% 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

Tallahassee, FL

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
196,169
Top Industries
GovernmentEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Tallahassee, FL
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.