3-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Knoxville, TN
Median asking rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in Knoxville, Tennessee as of July 2026. That's +24% higher than the citywide median of $1,735 and +1% above the national 3-bedroom median of $2,130.
Income needed for a 3-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 3-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 3-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 3-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greeneville | $712 |
| 2 | Crossville | $874 |
| 3 | Morristown | $961 |
| 4 | Martin | $1,130 |
| 5 | Athens | $1,180 |
| 6 | Dyersburg | $1,190 |
| 7 | Brownsville | $1,200 |
| 8 | Elizabethton | $1,250 |
| 9 | Tullahoma | $1,310 |
| 10 | Sevierville | $1,314 |
| 11 | Kingsport | $1,323 |
| 12 | Bristol | $1,340 |
| 13 | Cookeville | $1,380 |
| 14 | Manchester | $1,410 |
| 15 | Kingston | $1,430 |
Most expensive cities for a 3-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 3-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farragut | $2,980 |
| 2 | Mount Juliet | $2,940 |
| 3 | Spring Hill | $2,810 |
| 4 | Thompsons Station | $2,645 |
| 5 | La Vergne | $2,640 |
| 6 | Germantown | $2,540 |
| 7 | Lakeland | $2,500 |
| 8 | Nashville | $2,498 |
| 9 | Franklin | $2,474 |
| 10 | Brentwood | $2,470 |
| 11 | Hendersonville | $2,390 |
| 12 | Bartlett | $2,380 |
| 13 | Collierville | $2,370 |
| 14 | Ooltewah | $2,360 |
| 15 | Arlington | $2,310 |
Nearby cities — 3-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 3-bedroom rents than Knoxville.
| City | Distance | 3-Bedroom rent | vs Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powell, TN | 7.3 mi | $1,790 | $-369 (-17%) |
| Louisville, TN | 11.4 mi | $1,530 | $-629 (-29%) |
| Alcoa, TN | 12.5 mi | $1,940 | $-219 (-10%) |
| Farragut, TN | 15.2 mi | $2,980 | +$821 (+38%) |
| Clinton, TN | 16.1 mi | $1,680 | $-479 (-22%) |
| Maryville, TN | 18.5 mi | $1,897 | $-262 (-12%) |
| Seymour, TN | 18.8 mi | $1,750 | $-409 (-19%) |
| Lenoir City, TN | 20.8 mi | $2,270 | +$111 (+5%) |
| Oak Ridge, TN | 21.6 mi | $1,810 | $-349 (-16%) |
| Sevierville, TN | 29.4 mi | $1,314 | $-845 (-39%) |
| Kingston, TN | 37 mi | $1,430 | $-729 (-34%) |
| Morristown, TN | 50 mi | $961 | $-1,198 (-55%) |
3-Bedroom rent in Knoxville — common questions
How much is a 3-bedroom apartment in Knoxville?
As of July 2026, the median 3-bedroom apartment rent in Knoxville, Tennessee is $2,159 per month. This is +24% higher than the citywide median of $1,735.
What income do you need to afford a 3-bedroom in Knoxville?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $86,360 ($7,197/month gross), which works out to roughly $41.52/hour at a full-time job.
Is Knoxville expensive for a 3-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Knoxville's 3-bedroom median of $2,159 is +1% above the national 3-bedroom median of $2,130. It ranks in the 51th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Knoxville rank for 3-bedroom rent in Tennessee?
Among the 65 cities in Tennessee with 3-bedroom data, Knoxville ranks #44 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 3-bedroom options near Knoxville?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 3-bedroom rents include Powell ($1,790), Louisville ($1,530), Alcoa ($1,940).