The 10 Cheapest Cities to Build a Startup in the South

Chattanooga tops a SmartAsset analysis as the cheapest U.S. city to launch a startup — at roughly half the cost of San Jose — and eight of the ten most affordable startup cities are concentrated in the Southeast. The piece breaks down the real cost drivers: office space, talent salaries, and filing costs, showing that Southern founders actually allocate more of their budget toward team than their coastal counterparts. Founders deciding where to incorporate or relocate need this data before committing to a more expensive market.