Fort Lauderdale vs Chattanooga: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Chattanooga, TN, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 182,673 | 181,288 |
| Median household income | $75,376 | $57,703 |
| Median home value | $417,600 | $230,500 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,627 | $1,066 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fort Lauderdale, FL and Chattanooga, TN comes down to what you value most. Chattanooga has the lower median home value, and Chattanooga has the lower median rent.
Fort Lauderdale has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fort Lauderdale or Chattanooga?
- By median home value, Chattanooga is the cheaper of the two ($230,500 vs $417,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fort Lauderdale or Chattanooga?
- Median household income is $75,376 in Fort Lauderdale versus $57,703 in Chattanooga, per the US Census Bureau.