City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greensboro, NC (92.9) and Knoxville, TN (92.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greensboro, NC goes as far as $99,700 in Knoxville, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,184 in Knoxville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Greensboro, NC 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 Greensboro, NC to Knoxville, TN changes real buying power by +0.3%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (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
| Greensboro, NC | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,681 in Knoxville | $100,320 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,184/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Knoxville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
70 Fair offer
Knoxville, TN → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
68 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 Greensboro, NC to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Greensboro → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $61,980 | $62,178 (+4.1%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $121,750 | $122,139 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $75,380 | $75,621 (−5.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $77,240 | $77,487 (−6.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.