Rents are 10% below what Chattanooga's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,498 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Chattanooga usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Chattanooga is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Chattanooga changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Chattanooga rose 42% while median household income rose 41.7% ($45,527 to $64,523). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Chattanooga is 42.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,523) is $1,613 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,448); a 3-bedroom is $1,824.
The priciest of 10 ZIP codes in Chattanooga, 37409 ($1,809/mo), costs 36% more than the cheapest, 37416 ($1,335/mo).
Fort Oglethorpe, GA, 6 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Chattanooga. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Chattanooga, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 36% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Chattanooga, TN has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Chattanooga, TN stood at $1,150 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,498, reflecting a 30.3% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $64,523 today, compared with $50,437 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 180,353 residents to roughly 185,783. College-educated residents now make up 36% of adults here, versus 32% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Chattanooga
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Chattanooga on your salary?
At $1,498/mo, how Chattanooga rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Chattanooga rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Chattanooga. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Chattanooga
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Chattanooga is $1,498/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,249/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,448/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,305/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,824/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($64,523/yr), Chattanooga ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Chattanooga?
Is rent going up or down in Chattanooga?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Chattanooga?
Has rent outpaced income in Chattanooga?
Which Chattanooga neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Chattanooga rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chattanooga?
At $1,498/mo, rent takes ~28% of Chattanooga's median household income ($64,523/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Chattanooga.
No discussions yet.