City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Provo, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Provo, UT are 7.4% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $107,400 in Provo, UT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,265 in Provo, UT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,534 a year higher in Provo, UT 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 Provo, UT changes real buying power by −6.9%, purely from prices.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
- Provo, UT: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,400 in Provo | $93,110 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,265/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $48,010 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT MSA. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Provo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 78.6 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Provo, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$3,534/yr.
47 Fair offer
Provo, UT → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,534/yr.
92 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 Provo, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Provo, UT | Real change, Chattanooga → Provo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Provo, UT | Provo pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $62,930 | $58,594 (−2.1%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $131,210 | $122,170 (+14.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $75,700 | $70,484 (−8.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $81,780 | $76,146 (−4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.