1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Knoxville, TN
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Knoxville, Tennessee as of October 2026. That's +19% lower than the citywide median of $1,701 and +2% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Knoxville
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Knoxville
Compare Knoxville's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greeneville | $424 |
| 2 | Crossville | $488 |
| 3 | Morristown | $625 |
| 4 | Brownsville | $690 |
| 5 | Dayton | $690 |
| 6 | Lawrenceburg | $720 |
| 7 | Dyersburg | $740 |
| 8 | Cookeville | $790 |
| 9 | Elizabethton | $810 |
| 10 | Jefferson City | $810 |
| 11 | Manchester | $810 |
| 12 | Kingsport | $813 |
| 13 | Bristol | $820 |
| 14 | Tullahoma | $820 |
| 15 | Athens | $840 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Juliet | $2,100 |
| 2 | Arlington | $2,048 |
| 3 | Spring Hill | $1,890 |
| 4 | La Vergne | $1,890 |
| 5 | Farragut | $1,890 |
| 6 | Thompsons Station | $1,837 |
| 7 | Nashville | $1,785 |
| 8 | Germantown | $1,720 |
| 9 | Hendersonville | $1,710 |
| 10 | Lakeland | $1,690 |
| 11 | Franklin | $1,689 |
| 12 | Ooltewah | $1,680 |
| 13 | Brentwood | $1,624 |
| 14 | Bartlett | $1,615 |
| 15 | Collierville | $1,600 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Knoxville.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powell, TN | 7.3 mi | $1,130 | $-241 (-18%) |
| Alcoa, TN | 12.5 mi | $1,230 | $-141 (-10%) |
| Farragut, TN | 15.2 mi | $1,890 | +$519 (+38%) |
| Maryville, TN | 18.5 mi | $1,207 | $-164 (-12%) |
| Seymour, TN | 18.8 mi | $1,110 | $-261 (-19%) |
| Lenoir City, TN | 20.8 mi | $1,450 | +$79 (+6%) |
| Oak Ridge, TN | 21.6 mi | $1,150 | $-221 (-16%) |
| Sevierville, TN | 29.4 mi | $1,026 | $-345 (-25%) |
| Kingston, TN | 37 mi | $940 | $-431 (-31%) |
| Jefferson City, TN | 37.1 mi | $810 | $-561 (-41%) |
| Morristown, TN | 50 mi | $625 | $-746 (-54%) |
| Athens, TN | 58.5 mi | $840 | $-531 (-39%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Knoxville — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Knoxville?
As of October 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Knoxville, Tennessee is $1,371 per month. This is +19% below the citywide median of $1,701.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Knoxville?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $54,840 ($4,570/month gross), which works out to roughly $26.37/hour at a full-time job.
Is Knoxville expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Knoxville's 1-bedroom median of $1,371 is +2% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 48th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Knoxville rank for 1-bedroom rent in Tennessee?
Among the 66 cities in Tennessee with 1-bedroom data, Knoxville ranks #39 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Knoxville?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Powell ($1,130), Alcoa ($1,230), Maryville ($1,207).