City Comparison

Knoxville vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Knoxville

Tennessee
88
Below Average
$240,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$42,898
Median Income

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

4.3%

Knoxville is 4.3% less expensive than Twin Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Knoxville would need approximately $78,409 in Twin Falls to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
73
Knoxville
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
94
Knoxville
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
90
Knoxville
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
97
Knoxville
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
93
Knoxville
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Knoxville has the same purchasing power as $78,409 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $71,739 in Knoxville.

Living in Knoxville vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Knoxville's housing index of 73 is lower Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $380,000. 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: $1,100/mo in Knoxville compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Knoxville and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Knoxville vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 85 in Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Knoxville vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Knoxville and 94 in Twin Falls. 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 $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,748 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls 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 $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Knoxville is 4.3% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Knoxville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,409 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Knoxville's housing index is 73 with median homes at $240,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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