Chattanooga, TN vs Smyrna, TN

Chattanooga is moderately more affordable than Smyrna, with a 13.3% lower cost of living index. Chattanooga scores 89 compared to 102 for Smyrna, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Smyrna 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 $1,366/month in Smyrna — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chattanooga is more affordable at $259,200 median vs $326,700.

Median household income in Chattanooga is $61,028 compared to $78,409 in Smyrna (-22.2%). While Smyrna is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chattanooga spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 20.9% in Smyrna.