Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would need to be about $27,980 in Cocke County, TN, or $22,020 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Williamson County, TN vs Cocke County, TN: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Cocke County, TN is cheaper than Williamson County, TN.
Moving to Cocke County, TN is estimated to save $32,445 per year.
Cheaper County
Cocke County, TNSave about $32,445 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Williamson County, TN is about $27,980 in Cocke County, TN.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Cocke County, TN. Housing saves $16,316 per year.
Housing: $16,316 lower in Cocke County, TN
Taxes: $8,190 lower in Cocke County, TN
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $909 lower in Cocke County, TN
Food: $1,131 lower in Cocke County, TN
Transport: $481 lower in Cocke County, TN
Williamson County, TN→Cocke County, TN
Equivalent salary in Cocke County, TN
$27,980
-44.04% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Williamson County, TN: $153,397
Median Income in Cocke County, TN: $54,527
Living Index in Williamson County, TN 48.03%
Living Index in Cocke County, TN 75.62%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Williamson County, TN to Cocke County, TN.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Williamson County, TN to Cocke County, TN is estimated to save $32,445 per year. A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would have similar purchasing power to about $27,980 in Cocke County, TN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -44.04% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $16,316 per year lower (-65.57%); Taxes is $8,190 per year lower (-56.85%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Williamson County, TN and Cocke County, TN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 48.0% of median family income in Williamson County, TN and 75.6% in Cocke County, TN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $16,316 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Cocke County, TN changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,131 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Cocke County, TN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $481 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Cocke County, TN.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $909 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Cocke County, TN changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,417 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Cocke County, TN help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Williamson County, TN and Cocke County, TN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Cocke County, TN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,190 per year lower in Cocke County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Cocke County, TN matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Cocke County, TN.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Cocke County, TN
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Cocke County, TN.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Cocke County, TN
Annual Savings:
$16,316 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Cocke County, TN.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -66% lower | |
| Food | -22% lower | |
| Transport | -4% lower | |
| Healthcare | -15% lower | |
| Other Costs | -58% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -57% lower |
In Cocke County, TN, modeled annual costs are $41,234 compared with $73,679 in Williamson County, TN.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Cocke County, TN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Cocke County, TN is not a metropolitan location, while Williamson County, TN is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
