City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Chattanooga | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,066/mo | $2,526/mo | 57.8% lower in A |
| Median home value | $230,500 | $1,149,600 | 79.9% lower in A |
| Median household income | $57,703 | $136,010 | 57.6% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 98.5 | 114.4 | 13.9% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 95.2 | 141.7 | 32.8% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 82.0 | 125.8 | 34.8% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 95.1 | 132.6 | 28.3% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Chattanooga, you'd need $178,196 in San Jose to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chattanooga, TN is about 43.9% cheaper overall than San Jose, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 58% lower in Chattanooga than in San Jose. If you earn $80,000 in Chattanooga, you'd need about $142,557 in San Jose to keep the same standard of living.