California vs Tennessee
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,142
+32% in California
Median Home Value
$771,700
$270,100
+65% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$63,204
+25% in California
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
61.3°F
+3.2°F in California
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/2 cities we track in California/Tennessee — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.