CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Knoxville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Knoxville is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 4.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $76,600 in Knoxville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.0%
Gainesville
93
Knoxville
82.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Gainesville
96.2
Knoxville
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.8%
Gainesville
103.8
Knoxville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare3.7%
Gainesville
93.9
Knoxville
90.4
Utilities18.5%
Gainesville
88.2
Knoxville
71.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Knoxville, TN
$76,600
$3,400 less needed in Knoxville

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9576. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Knoxville, TN

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
82.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Gainesville has 11.0% lower housing costs compared to Knoxville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Knoxville, TN

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
190,740
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingTourismGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.