Chattanooga, TN at a glance
Median household income
$64,523$5,377 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Chattanooga, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Chattanooga, TN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,211 | $14,532 | $48,440 | 22.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,263 | $15,156 | $50,520 | 23.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,390 | $16,680 | $55,600 | 25.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,734 | $20,808 | $69,360 | 32.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,853 | $22,236 | $74,120 | 34.5% |
What a typical income covers in Chattanooga, TN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $64,523 a year ($5,377 a month before tax).
What $64,523 leaves after Tennessee taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Tennessee tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Tennessee
Living in Chattanooga, TN: common questions
What is the median household income in Chattanooga, TN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Chattanooga, TN is $64,523 per year (approximately $5,377 per month).
What is the average rent in Chattanooga, TN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,211 for a studio, $1,263 for one bedroom, $1,390 for two, $1,734 for three and $1,853 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Chattanooga, TN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 91.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?
To keep a $1,390 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $55,600 a year, or $4,633 a month. That is 86% of what the typical household in Chattanooga, TN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Chattanooga, TN?
On the local median income of $64,523 ($5,377 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,688 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,613 for everything else and $1,075 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,390 takes 52% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Chattanooga, TN?
Homes in Tennessee paid 14.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $127. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.