Is Nashville expensive to live in?

Nashville is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,336 per month ranks #24 of 112 and is 24% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Nashville?

Average rent in Nashville, TN runs a studio around $1,341, a one-bedroom around $1,336, a two-bedroom around $1,478, a three-bedroom around $1,832 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Nashville?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,336 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year. The median household income here is $75,197.

How much does it cost to live in Nashville per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Nashville is about $1,490 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

City skyline near body of water during daytime — Nashville, TN

Cost of Living in Nashville, TN

Population 689,447 · Tennessee

~$1,490/mo est.1BR $1,336Home $383,100

Photo: Matthew Jungling / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Nashville, TN is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,336 a month — 24% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,341 and two-bedrooms $1,478.

Median household income here is $75,197, 8% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,490 before food and transport. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,336

Studio

$1,341

1 Bedroom

$1,336

2 Bedroom

$1,478

3 Bedroom

$1,832

Buying a Home$383,100

Median Home Value

$383,100

Income$75,197

Median Household Income

$75,197

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.5¢/kWh

Electricity

14.5¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$16.83/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

Public Transit$2.00

Base Fare (WeGo Public Transit)

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (TN)7% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,178.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,178.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,558.5

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 34.4 yrs

Median Age

34.4 yrs

Homeownership

53.0%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

Avg Commute

24.9 min

Climate59.4°F

Avg Annual Temperature

59.4°F

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

Nashville cost of living — FAQ

Is Nashville expensive to live in?: Nashville is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,336 per month ranks #24 of 112 and is 24% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Nashville?: Average rent in Nashville, TN runs a studio around $1,341, a one-bedroom around $1,336, a two-bedroom around $1,478, a three-bedroom around $1,832 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Nashville?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,336 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year. The median household income here is $75,197.
How much does it cost to live in Nashville per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Nashville is about $1,490 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Nashville with nearby cities

Nashville vs Bowling Green Nashville vs Evansville Nashville vs Louisville Nashville vs Lexington Nashville vs Birmingham Nashville vs Memphis

Nearby cities

Bowling Green, KY 58 mi Evansville, IN 132 mi Louisville, KY 155 mi Lexington, KY 181 mi Birmingham, AL 183 mi Memphis, TN 196 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.