Uprootmap
Chattanooga vs Johnson City
Chattanooga and Johnson City
Photo: Lfazz / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Johnson City are under the US rate in this release, 4.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chattanooga to Johnson City
In 2022-2023, 33 households filed a move from Chattanooga to Johnson City (about 43 people, average adjusted gross income $69,455). 44 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,137 in Chattanooga and $969 in Johnson City. Chattanooga has no state tax on wages. Johnson City has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Johnson City is 83% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Chattanooga.
Johnson City averages 207 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 30°F. Chattanooga is 208 sunny days, 89°F in July, 29°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Johnson City and 24 in Chattanooga.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 33 households moved Chattanooga → Johnson City (about 43 people, average AGI $69,455). 44 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chattanooga and Johnson City changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 228 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Johnson City
Questions
Is Johnson City cheaper than Chattanooga after tax and rent?
Yes. Johnson City leaves about $162 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,137 in Chattanooga and $969 in Johnson City.
Does Johnson City have state income tax?
Johnson City is in Tennessee, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Chattanooga to Johnson City?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.