Chattanooga, TN vs Johnson City, TN

Johnson City is moderately more affordable than Chattanooga, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Chattanooga scores 89 compared to 79 for Johnson City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chattanooga can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chattanooga is $1,155/month compared to $957/month in Johnson City — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Johnson City is more affordable at $238,000 median vs $259,200.

Median household income in Chattanooga is $61,028 compared to $55,429 in Johnson City (+10.1%). The higher salaries in Chattanooga partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Chattanooga spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 20.7% in Johnson City.