Guntersville, AL vs Jefferson City, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Jefferson City, TN has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Guntersville, AL.

Guntersville, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month
Jefferson City, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,120 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Guntersville, AL and Jefferson City, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $231/month in Jefferson City, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,223 in Jefferson City, TN

Regional cost estimates: Guntersville, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Jefferson City, TN uses Lexington, KY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$231
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Guntersville, AL

Population:9K
Cost Index:
83.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$289K

Jefferson City, TN

Population:9K
Cost Index:
80.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$298K

Planning the move to Jefferson City?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Guntersville, AL

The Heart of Dixie

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Jefferson City, TN

The Volunteer State

9K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 9K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Guntersville, AL vs Jefferson City, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 9.1%
Guntersville, AL
$1,978
Jefferson City, TN
$2,158
Difference
$180
more
Transportation
↓ 9.3%
Guntersville, AL
$1,374
Jefferson City, TN
$1,247
Difference
$127
less
All Utilities
↓ 18.7%
Guntersville, AL
$631
Jefferson City, TN
$513
Difference
$118
less
Other
↓ 6.5%
Guntersville, AL
$1,799
Jefferson City, TN
$1,682
Difference
$116
less
Groceries
↓ 5.3%
Guntersville, AL
$1,118
Jefferson City, TN
$1,059
Difference
$59.13
less
Healthcare
↑ 1.6%
Guntersville, AL
$600
Jefferson City, TN
$609
Difference
$9.35
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$810
To$870
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$900
To$880
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,020
To$1,120
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,430
↑ $150
Guntersville, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/mo

Jefferson City, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Guntersville, AL
$7,269
Monthly in Jefferson City, TN
$231
Difference

Home Values

Guntersville
Jefferson City
$289K
Median Value
$298K
↓ -0.7%
YoY Change
↑ +0.4%
↑ +37.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +52.7%

Homes in Jefferson City are 3% more expensive than Guntersville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$622
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.0%
Rate difference

Guntersville, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Jefferson City, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Guntersville, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Jefferson City, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Guntersville
Jefferson City
57 Moderate
Air Quality
41 Good
26%
Good Air Days
79.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days

Before moving from Guntersville, AL to Jefferson City, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Jefferson City, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Guntersville, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Guntersville to Jefferson City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Jefferson City, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Guntersville, AL vs Jefferson City, TN

How do the cost estimates for Guntersville, AL and Jefferson City, TN compare?

Jefferson City, TN has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than Guntersville, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Guntersville, AL, the model estimates $147,223 in Jefferson City, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Guntersville, AL and Jefferson City, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Guntersville, AL and $1,120/month in Jefferson City, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Jefferson City, TN

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison