Cost of Living in Tennessee: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Tennessee? doxo breaks down key insights about Tennessee’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Tennessee pays $1,734 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Tennessee’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Tennessee ranks as the 31st most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Tennessee is ranked as the 31st most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $20,808 per year, Tennessee’s household expenses, on average, are 16% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Tennessee households spend 29% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Tennessee is 84.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,734 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 84
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #31
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 29%
- Compared to the National Median: 16% lower
Tennessee Household Expenses are 16% Lower Than the National Median
The average Tennessee household pays $1,734 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Tennessee is $70, compared to the national median of $74, making it 5% lower than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Tennessee residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,340, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 25% less expensive.
Median Tennessee Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Tennessee Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Tennessee Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,340 | $1,775 | 25% lower |
| Rent | $1,164 | $1,453 | 20% lower |
| Auto Loan | $500 | $470 | 6% higher |
| Auto Insurance | $124 | $105 | 18% higher |
| Health Insurance | $50 | $72 | 31% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $91 | $96 | 5% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $143 | $121 | 18% higher |
| Life Insurance | $54 | $60 | 10% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $70 | $74 | 5% lower |
| Total | $1,734 | $2,065 | 16% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
College Grove has the highest cost of living in Tennessee for household bills
Residents of College Grove pay the highest household bills in the state of Tennessee, at a median of $2,803 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for College Grove is 136, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 36% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in College Grove make up 21% of the median annual household income of $162,712.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Tennessee Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | College Grove | $162,712 | $2,803 | 136 | 36% higher | 21% |
| 2 | Brentwood | $156,002 | $2,687 | 130 | 30% higher | 21% |
| 3 | Collierville | $135,946 | $2,569 | 124 | 24% higher | 23% |
| 4 | Nolensville | $146,028 | $2,507 | 121 | 21% higher | 21% |
| 5 | Germantown | $145,982 | $2,506 | 121 | 21% higher | 21% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Lancaster has the lowest cost of living in Tennessee for household bills
Lancaster is the most affordable place in Tennessee, with residents paying $812 on average for household bills, accounting for 9% of annual income of $105,625. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Lancaster is 39, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 61% below the national median.
Milligan College is the second most affordable city in Tennessee, with residents paying $839 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Tennessee are Edison ($868), Coalfield ($952) and Williamsport ($960).
5 Most Affordable Tennessee Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Lancaster | $105,625 | $812 | 39 | 61% lower | 9% |
| 2 | Milligan College | $49,658 | $839 | 41 | 59% lower | 20% |
| 3 | Edison | $50,078 | $868 | 42 | 58% lower | 21% |
| 4 | Coalfield | $60,064 | $952 | 46 | 54% lower | 19% |
| 5 | Williamsport | $100,542 | $960 | 46 | 54% lower | 11% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Tennessee with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.