Knoxville vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Knoxville
Springfield
The Verdict
Knoxville is 17.8% less expensive than Springfield overall. A household earning $75,000 in Knoxville would need approximately $91,193 in Springfield 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 $91,193 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $61,682 in Knoxville.
Living in Knoxville vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Knoxville's housing index of 73 is lower Springfield's 116, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $378,000. The $138,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Knoxville compared to $1,150/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Knoxville and 101 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Knoxville vs $480/month in Springfield. Knoxville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 90 in Knoxville and 96 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Knoxville vs $384 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 93 in Knoxville and 102 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $42,898 in Knoxville and $57,600 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,748 and $53,832 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,344/month in Springfield. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases