City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Eugene, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 11.0% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $111,000 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,286 in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Chattanooga, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Eugene, OR changes real buying power by −9.9%, purely from prices.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Eugene, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 101.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,047 in Eugene | $90,052 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,286/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $49,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Eugene-Springfield, OR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Eugene |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 98.3 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 105.3 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 102.5 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 101.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
38 Weak offer
Eugene, OR → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Eugene, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Eugene, OR | Real change, Chattanooga → Eugene |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −9.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −9.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −9.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −9.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −9.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Eugene, OR | Eugene pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $64,260 | $57,867 (−3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $121,050 | $109,008 (+2.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $79,930 | $71,979 (−6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $113,720 | $102,407 (+28.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.