Knoxville vs Roanoke
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Knoxville
Roanoke
The Verdict
Roanoke is 8.6% less expensive than Knoxville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Knoxville would need approximately $69,034 in Roanoke 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 Knoxville has the same purchasing power as $69,034 in Roanoke.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roanoke equals $81,481 in Knoxville.
Living in Knoxville vs Roanoke
Housing Costs
Knoxville's housing index of 73 is higher Roanoke's 57, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $225,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Knoxville compared to $1,075/mo in Roanoke, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Knoxville and 97 in Roanoke. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Knoxville vs $461/month in Roanoke. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 90 in Knoxville and 116 in Roanoke. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Knoxville vs $464 in Roanoke. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 93 in Knoxville and 91 in Roanoke. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $42,898 in Knoxville and $52,700 in Roanoke. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,748 and $65,062 respectively. Roanoke residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,001/month to housing in Knoxville vs $1,230/month in Roanoke. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roanoke, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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