Lancaster's 2025 cost of living is $2537 per month for singles and $5586 per month for families of four.
Living costs in Lancaster are 2% higher than the U.S. national average and 125% lower than Tennessee's state average.
This reflects a 1% increase from 2024.
The primary drivers of Lancaster's cost of living are soaring housing costs, elevated transportation expenses, and rising food prices.
See how Lancaster's cost of living affects your budget or salary needs with Salary.com's free Cost of Living Calculator.
Cost of Living Calculator
How does Lancaster's cost of living compare to the national average in 2025?
Living in Lancaster is more expensive than the national average,
with housing costs 19.2 % higher at $1430
per month for a single person and $2622 per month for a family of four.
Food expenses run 21.9 %
below average at $312
monthly for an individual and $1015 for a family,
while energy, transportation and healthcare costs are 15.9 % lower at about $736 per month
for one person and $1626 for a household.
These costs bring the total monthly expenses to $2478
for a single person and $5263 for a family of four,
making Lancaster one of America's most expensive cities.
How does the cost of living compare when moving from other major cities to Lancaster?
Lancaster's 2025 cost of living is 84% lower than San Francisco,
40% less than Washington, 14% below Miami
, 10% lower than Chicago, 49% less than Boston
, and 71% below New York.
Essential for evaluating relocation costs and salary needs in Lancaster.
Lancaster is an unincorporated community in Smith County, Tennessee, United States, located 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southeast of Gordonsville. Lancaster had a post office with ZIP code 38569, which closed on March 4, 2011, due to the United States Postal Service closing smaller post offices around the country.
As of 2010, the population of Lancaster's zip code tabulation area was 363. The community is situated along State Highway 141 between Gordonsville and Center Hill Lake, and is drained by Smith Fork, a tributary of the Caney Fork. The community is named for John Lancaster, Jr., an early sett...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
Comments about the cost of living in Lancaster, TN
Buying a home and the cost of living
If you want to buy a home in the beautiful state of Tennessee, you will find that home prices are generally below the median compared to most residential home markets in the country. Purchasing a home can be a lengthy and complex process. Besides the down payment, which is usually 15-20% of the selling price, there will be closing costs. If you own a home in your former location the sale of that home needs to be completed as well. Once you have purchased and moved into your new home, there will be utility and maintenance costs as well as property taxes and home insurance that will contribute to your cost of living. The advantages of living in Tennessee are many, and below median prices for homes is one of them to consider. (2025-07-24salary.com)
Tennessee is a tax-friendly state with a low cost of living for some.
Tennessee has no state income tax! This means that if you work in Tennessee, your paycheck will be free of taxes other than the federal income taxes and the soon to be abolished (2022) hall tax, which is a tax on dividends and interest. The absence of state income tax will make your take-home pay higher and provide more income for the basic cost of living purchases.
Tennessee does, however, have a statewide 7% sales tax.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
Healthcare access and affordability and your cost of living
Tennessee is ranked number 36 out of all states in overall healthcare access and affordability.
Healthcare costs make up a significant part of the cost of living. The ability to afford healthcare as well as the ability to access care are key indicators of how much you will be paying for this important resource if you move to another state. Affordability is generally measured by the rates set for insurance coverage in a state, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses that need to be paid by you when receiving the care. If rates or out-of-pocket expenses are high, your cost of living will increase. Access to healthcare is how easy or difficult it may be to receive the care. Access is measured by identifying barriers that might prevent the delivery of care such as the inability to obtain insurance coverage, having to travel long distances to health care centers and lack of sufficient facilities and/or healthcare professionals. The timeliness of care, how fast you can get to see a healthcare provider, is another important measure.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?
In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family.
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What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?
The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly.
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Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.
Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.