A+
0%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
21%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Collegedale Tennessee National
Cost of living10089100
Goods & Services9295100
Groceries9797100
Health care8785100
Housing12180100
Transportation8988100
Utilities8989100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Collegedale, TN

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Collegedale? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Collegedale stands at 100, making it 0% equal to the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Collegedale is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Collegedale, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 20.8% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Collegedale Affordable?

Wondering if Collegedale is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Collegedale, for example, the median home price is 26.3% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Collegedale boasting a median household income of $84,852, which is 4.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Collegedale?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Collegedale, the utilities index is 11.4% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Collegedale, the groceries index is 3% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Collegedale, healthcare costs are 13.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Collegedale cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Collegedale is 13% higher than the Tennessee average
  • The cost of living in Collegedale is equal to the national average
  • Collegedale housing is 21% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Collegedale

See all the best places to live around Collegedale

Compare Collegedale, TN Cost of Living

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      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$108,177$9,015$2,524$3,246
      Renters$80,052$6,671$1,868$2,402
      The affordability of the housing market in Collegedale, TN as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Collegedale homeowners, the median income is $108,177. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,524 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $80,052. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,868 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Tennessee Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Tennessee 7% 9.75%

      Tennessee Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Tennessee 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.57$27.6211.0%
      Beauty Salon $44.60$51.1112.7%
      Toothpaste $4.03$4.091.5%
      Shampoo $1.60$1.543.8%
      Movie $14.30$12.8811.0%
      Yoga $18.00$19.668.4%

      Groceries

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.62$7.701.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.668.6%
      Milk $4.74$4.730.1%
      Potatoes $5.72$5.268.8%
      Pizza $12.79$12.760.2%
      Beer $10.40$10.551.4%

      Health Care

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $108.67$140.0622.4%
      Doctor $124.80$153.8218.9%
      Dentist $97.33$123.1521.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.56$11.731.5%
      Lipitor $23.59$23.610.1%

      Housing

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      Home Price $412,641.00$326,622.0026.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,885.20$2,480.2524.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,559.00$1,444.008.0%

      Transportation

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.74$3.0610.2%
      Tire Balancing $56.93$65.2112.7%

      Utilities

      Item Collegedale National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $179.43$220.1218.5%
      Phone $196.66$195.710.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rossville, GA4,0698020.0%
      East Cleveland, TN2,6178019.9%
      Lakeview, GA4,9078415.8%
      Fairview, GA6,0858515.4%
      Fort Oglethorpe, GA10,1578614.2%
      Collegedale, TN11,6331000.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lethbridge County, AB11,635n/a 
      Rosaryville, MD11,63013232.4%
      Ridgefield, NJ11,63915858.2%
      Snyder, TX11,6398613.9%
      Pasadena Hills, FL11,6421077.0%
      Collegedale, TN11,6331000.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.