Knoxville, TN vs Nashville, 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 Nashville
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $0.00Vehicle-sized purchase
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.
Nashville, TN
Davidson County
9.25%
Combined rate · ranked #12 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Davidson County (Metro Nashville) | 2.25% |
- Population
- 689,447
- Median household income
- $72,089
Tennessee caps the local rate at 2.75% and applies a reduced 4% state rate to groceries, so Nashville's effective rate on food is far lower than 9.25%.
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, Knoxville or Nashville?
Neither — both apply a combined rate of 9.25%.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Nashville 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 Knoxville and Nashville 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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