Essentials
- City
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- Population
- 196,000 (Metro area approx. 900,000)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber available via KUB Fiber and AT&T; average speeds 300 Mbps - 1 Gbps
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD); 1 USD = 0.92 EUR (approx. March 2026)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe (KUB Utility Standards)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T (E-SIMs available via Airalo or Mint Mobile starting at $15/mo)
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wells Fargo, or online platforms like Revolut and Wise
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Furnished Finder, and local apartment complexes like The Daniel
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- The Tennessean Hotel (approx. $250/night), Airbnb lofts in Old City ($130-$200/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Red Roof Inn Knoxville Central (approx. $75/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Market Square and Downtown (walking distance to shops and restaurants)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Old City or North Knoxville (Fourth and Gill) for a mix of cafes, community, and relative affordability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Mill & Mine or Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) at Market Square; Day passes approx. $25
- Best Cafe for Work
- Old City Java (109 S Central St) for quiet work; K Brew (7822 Kingston Pike) for speed
- Networking Events
- Knoxville Technology Council (KTC) meetups and 'Startup Knox' events
- Social Events for Expats
- Newcomers Club of Knoxville and local Meetup.com groups for outdoor enthusiasts
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (widely available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Pace Bike Share and Link/Superpedestrian Electric Scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- The Cove at Concord Park (Inland lake beach, 20 mins) or Myrtle Beach, SC (approx. 6 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- American Eagle / Delta Connection via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Top International Airline
- Delta or United (connecting via Atlanta or Charlotte)
- Highway Access
- Intersection of I-40 and I-75 (major East-West/North-South corridors)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Knoxville Station Transit Center (KAT Bus System); No passenger rail (Amtrak)
- Public Transport Passes
- KAT Bus: $2 for a day pass, $50 for a 30-day pass
- Regional Travel
- Megabus or Greyhound for travel to Nashville or Asheville
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- UT Medical Center (1924 Alcoa Hwy)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Real Hot Yoga (Bearden) or Glowing Body Pilates & Yoga ($20 drop-in)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- National Fitness Center or YMCA of East Tennessee (approx. $55/mo)
- Laundry Services
- Dusty’s Laundry (2407 N Central St)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hot Chicken or Southern BBQ from Sweet P's Barbeque
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tomato Head (Market Square) and Sunspot (Cumberland Ave)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Cruze Farm Ice Cream (Gay St) and Phoenix Pharmacy & Fountain
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (Bearden) and ALDI
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/Next-day delivery available)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and Walmart Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Old City (intersection of Central and Jackson)
- Local Brewery
- Pretentious Glass Co & Beer Co (Old City) or Schulz Bräu Brewing Company
- Wine Bars
- Water into Wine (Farragut) and Rebel Kitchen
- Street Food Stalls
- Central Filling Station (Knoxville's first food truck park)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Anaba Japanese Cuisine and Sticky Rice Cafe (Laotian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sunsphere (World's Fair Park) and Tennessee Theatre
- Museums & Art Venues
- Knoxville Museum of Art (Free admission) and McClung Museum of Natural History
- Historical Sites
- James White's Fort and Blount Mansion
- Religious Sites
- St. John's Cathedral and Immaculate Conception Church
- Annual Events
- Dogwood Arts Festival (April) and Big Ears Festival (March)
- Cultural Districts
- Happy Holler Historic District
- Theater Venues
- Bijou Theatre and Clarence Brown Theatre
- Local Markets
- Market Square Farmers Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- Blue Plate Special (Live radio at Visit Knoxville) and Preservation Pub
- Street Art
- Strong Alley (Graffiti Alley between Market Square and Gay St)
- Cooking Classes
- The Cutting Edge Classroom
- Art Galleries
- Emporium Center for Arts & Culture
- Historic Buildings
- Knox County Courthouse
- Local Heritage
- Appalachian heritage and University of Tennessee (Volunteers) sports culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ijams Nature Center (10 mins from downtown)
- National Parks Nearby
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (approx. 1 hour drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Knoxville Urban Wilderness (50+ miles of trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park for skyline views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Seven Islands State Birding Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Anchor Park (Farragut) with designated grills/pits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Ship Center (100 Center Park Dr) and UPS Store
- Tech Repair Services
- SmartFix Knoxville (S Gay St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Main Event Entertainment or local community centers
- Language Classes
- Tennessee Language Center (Remote/In-person options)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Lawson McGhee Library (500 W Church Ave)
- Community Centers
- Emerald Youth Foundation centers and Caswell Park
- Gaming Lounges
- Token Game Tavern (Knoxville’s premier arcade bar)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in TN); Harrah's Cherokee (NC) is 2 hours away
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² ($192,000 for 40 m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² ($128,000 for 40 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,400 per m² ($264,000 for 60 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,900 per m² ($174,000 for 60 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² ($320,000 for 80 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,700 per m² ($216,000 for 80 m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 6.5% Excise Tax plus 0.25% Franchise Tax
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Tennessee has no state income tax on dividends/interest since 2021)
- Tax System
- Federal income tax plus state-level sales tax; no state personal income tax
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal only)
- VAT
- 9.25% (Combined State and Local Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Subject to US Federal GILTI and Subpart F rules
- Property Tax
- Yes, combined City and County rates (approx. $3.80 per $100 of assessed value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Recordation tax of $0.37 per $100 of value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Very attractive due to 0% State Income Tax