Chattanooga, TN vs Knoxville, TN: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Both metros apply the same combined sales tax rate of 9.25%, so a purchase costs the same at the register in either place — but the jurisdictions collecting that money differ, as the stacks below show.
- Rate gap
- 0%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $0.00Paid in Knoxville
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $0.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Chattanooga, TN
Hamilton County
9.25%
Combined rate · ranked #14 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Hamilton County | 2.25% |
- Population
- 187,030
- Median household income
- $55,591
Chattanooga sits on the Georgia line, where the combined rate drops to about 8% — a meaningful gap on large purchases.
Knoxville, TN
Knox County
9.25%
Combined rate · ranked #13 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Knox County | 2.25% |
- Population
- 192,648
- Median household income
- $57,254
Knox County's local option rate matches Davidson's, so Knoxville and Nashville charge the same total despite very different budgets.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0% of $1,000 is $0.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Chattanooga or Knoxville?
Neither — both apply a combined rate of 9.25%.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Knoxville on a $1,000 purchase?
Nothing — the two combined rates are identical, so the tax on a $1,000 purchase is the same.
Why do Chattanooga and Knoxville have different rates?
The state share is 7% in TN and 7% in TN. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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