CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is slightly cheaper than Knoxville — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $78,500 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.2%
Knoxville
82.8
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Knoxville
96.2
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Knoxville
99.9
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Knoxville
90.4
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+33.2%
Knoxville
71.9
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9816. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Knoxville has 23.2% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.