CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Knoxville is moderately cheaper than Olympia — 12.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $89,600 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.9%
Knoxville
82.8
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries+9.1%
Knoxville
96.2
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation+4.5%
Knoxville
99.9
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Knoxville
90.4
Olympia
94.5
Utilities+27.5%
Knoxville
71.9
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$89,600
$9,600 more needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.1199. 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×

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Olympia has 40.9% higher housing costs compared to Knoxville.

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

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

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)

Olympia, WA
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.