Question 1

Is Knoxville or Spokane cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Knoxville, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $273/month less than in Spokane, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,471/mo in Knoxville versus $1,531/mo in Spokane.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Knoxville vs Spokane?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $65,500/year before tax in Knoxville, TN and $71,000/year in Spokane, WA — a difference of about $5,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Knoxville or Spokane cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Knoxville, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,539/month in Knoxville and $10,576/month in Spokane, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Knoxville or Spokane?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Knoxville costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Knoxville62	Spokane61
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,787	$4,060
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,539	$10,576
Salary for comfort	$65,500/yr	$71,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,471	$1,531
Median home value	$214,000	$326,200
Median household income	$50,994	$65,745
Unemployment	3.7%	3.9%
Housing score	42	45
Jobs score	64	73
Safety score	31	24
Climate score	100	86
Amenities score	33	38
Population	193.7K	229.2K
Summer high / winter low	88° / 29°	83° / 25°

Knoxville, TN vs Spokane, WA