Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Virginia vs Tennessee comes down to what you value. Tennessee is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 15% lower than Virginia, so the same paycheck stretches further. Virginia ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#1 vs #13), balancing cost against quality of life. Virginia is strongest on climate and weakest on healthcare; Tennessee is strongest on climate and weakest on safety.
| Metric | Virginia | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 1.00 0% below average | 0.85 15% below average |
| Best Life Rank | #1 | #13 |
| Cost of living | #30 | #10 |
| Climate | #4 | #6 |
| Healthcare | #22 | #44 |
| Schools | #5 | #35 |
| Safety | #12 | #45 |
| Economy | #12 | #9 |
| Air quality | #22 | #37 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Virginia, you'd need about $85,000 in Tennessee.
To live the way $100,000 does in Tennessee, you'd need about $118,000 in Virginia.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Virginia taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Tennessee taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Tennessee is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 15% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.85 versus 1.00. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Virginia ranks higher (#1 vs #13). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Virginia leads on climate while Tennessee leads on climate.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Virginia is roughly equivalent to $85,000 in Tennessee for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.