Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,142 in Tennessee versus $1,357 in Virginia. Overall, Tennessee runs roughly 16% cheaper on rent than Virginia, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $63,204 in Tennessee and $90,685 in Virginia — about 30% higher in Virginia. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in Tennessee
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in Virginia
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,142
$1,357
+19% in Virginia
Median Home Value
$270,100
$366,300
+36% in Virginia
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$63,204
$90,685
+43% in Virginia
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
61.3°F
59.9°F
+1.4°F in Tennessee
Tennessee vs Virginia — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Tennessee or Virginia?
- Tennessee is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,142 runs about 16% below Virginia's $1,357, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Tennessee than in Virginia?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Tennessee versus $54,000 in Virginia.
- Which has lower taxes, Tennessee or Virginia?
- Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in Tennessee/Virginia — 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.