Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Chattanooga, TN-GA

Cost of living in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hamilton County, TN

Part of the Chattanooga Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,175/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 370,913 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,284 40%
Federal tax $528 17%
Healthcare $480 15%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $317 10%
Energy $191 6%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Chattanooga

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,231
per month
1 bedroom
$1,284
per month
2 bedroom
$1,426
per month
3 bedroom
$1,796
per month
4 bedroom
$1,942
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Chattanooga

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$72,568
per year
Individual earnings
$42,318
per year
Per capita
$43,484
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Chattanooga

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$282,100
Annual property tax
$1,888

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Chattanooga

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$147
per month · 13.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$44
per month
Annual total
$2,292
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Chattanooga

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
9.6%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Chattanooga

State and local tax rates for Tennessee.

No state income tax
Tennessee does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
7.0%
Combined sales tax
9.6%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Chattanooga

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.9 min
Drive alone
75.0%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
12.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Chattanooga

What it costs to live in Chattanooga each month.

Single person
$3,175
per month
  • Rent $1,284
  • Energy $191
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $317
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $528
  • State tax $0
Couple
$4,387
per month
  • Rent $1,426
  • Energy $229
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $525
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $858
  • State tax $0
Family
$6,882
per month
  • Rent $1,796
  • Energy $286
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $797
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $858
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Chattanooga

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Chattanooga?

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,284 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,426 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,796 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Chattanooga?

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, the average household income is $72,568 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,318 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Chattanooga?

The estimated cost of living in Chattanooga, Tennessee is approximately $3,175 per month for a single person, $4,387 for a couple, $6,882 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Chattanooga?

The combined sales tax rate in Chattanooga, Tennessee is 9.55%, which includes the Tennessee state rate of 7.00% plus an average local rate of 2.55%.

Is Chattanooga an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Chattanooga, Tennessee would need approximately $3,175 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $72,568 per year ($6,047 per month). Chattanooga has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Chattanooga?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Chattanooga, Tennessee is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 9.6% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Chattanooga?

The average home value in Chattanooga, Tennessee is $282,100, with average annual property taxes of $1,888, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Chattanooga compare to other areas?

You can compare Chattanooga, Tennessee with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Chattanooga is in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area.

Other counties in Tennessee

Browse the full list of counties in Tennessee, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Tennessee

Compare Chattanooga with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources