Chattanooga, TN vs Clarksville, TN

Chattanooga, TN and Clarksville, TN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Chattanooga scores 89 while Clarksville scores 88 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Chattanooga is $1,155/month compared to $1,215/month in Clarksville — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chattanooga has cheaper rent, Clarksville actually has lower median home values ($236,100 vs $259,200).

Median household income in Chattanooga is $61,028 compared to $66,786 in Clarksville (-8.6%). Clarksville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chattanooga spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 21.8% in Clarksville.