Johnson City, TN vs Knoxville, TN

Johnson City is moderately more affordable than Knoxville, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Johnson City scores 79 compared to 84 for Knoxville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Knoxville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Johnson City is $957/month compared to $1,116/month in Knoxville — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Johnson City has cheaper rent, Knoxville actually has lower median home values ($214,000 vs $238,000).

Median household income in Johnson City is $55,429 compared to $50,994 in Knoxville (+8.7%). Johnson City offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Johnson City spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, less than the 26.3% in Knoxville.