City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 9.7% higher than in Knoxville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Knoxville, TN would need about $109,700 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,184 in Knoxville, TN. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 18% in Knoxville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Knoxville, 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 Eugene, OR to Knoxville, TN changes real buying power by +9.7%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Knoxville, TN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,140 in Knoxville | $109,721 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,184/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Knoxville, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
99 Strong offer
Knoxville, TN → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
41 Weak 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 Eugene, OR to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Eugene → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $61,980 | $68,005 (+5.8%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $121,750 | $133,586 (+10.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $75,380 | $82,708 (+3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $77,240 | $84,749 (−25.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.