Chattanooga vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Chattanooga
Vienna
The Verdict
Vienna is 1.1% less expensive than Chattanooga overall. A household earning $75,000 in Chattanooga would need approximately $74,157 in Vienna to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Chattanooga has the same purchasing power as $74,157 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $75,852 in Chattanooga.
Living in Chattanooga vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Chattanooga's housing index of 76 is lower Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $255,000 vs $395,000. The $140,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,096 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Chattanooga compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Chattanooga and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Chattanooga vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Chattanooga and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Chattanooga vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Chattanooga and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $46,054 in Chattanooga and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,746 and $54,545 respectively. Vienna residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,075/month to housing in Chattanooga vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Chattanooga, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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