City comparison
Gainesville, FL vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Gainesville, FL are 4.5% higher than in Knoxville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Knoxville, TN would need about $104,500 in Gainesville, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,246 a month in Gainesville, FL and $1,184 in Knoxville, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in 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 Gainesville, FL to Knoxville, TN changes real buying power by +4.5%, purely from prices.
- Gainesville, FL: price level 96.7 (cheaper)
- 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
| Gainesville, FL | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.7 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,695 in Knoxville | $104,498 in Gainesville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,246/mo | $1,184/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,020 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Gainesville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Gainesville, FL and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Gainesville | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.0 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 96.7 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Gainesville, FL → Knoxville, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
83 Strong offer
Knoxville, TN → Gainesville, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
55 Fair 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 Gainesville, FL to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Gainesville, FL | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Gainesville → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Gainesville, FL | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Gainesville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $56,430 | $61,980 | $64,768 (+14.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,950 | $121,750 | $127,227 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,820 | $75,380 | $78,771 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,870 | $77,240 | $80,714 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.