Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,490 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 29% higher in Nashville, TN. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,341
+71% in Nashville, TN
1 Bedroom
$916
$1,336
+46% in Nashville, TN
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,478
+43% in Nashville, TN
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$1,832
+49% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$383,100
+135% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$75,197
+42% in Nashville, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$50,390
+10% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.4 yr
+0.5 yr in Augusta, GA
Homeownership
50.9%
53.0%
+2.1 pp in Nashville, TN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
46.9%
+22.7 pp in Nashville, TN
Avg Commute
20.6 min
24.9 min
+4.3 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
1,178.7
+116% in Nashville, TN
Property Crime
3,652
4,558.5
+25% in Nashville, TN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
59.4°F
+5.8°F in Augusta, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
47.3 in
+0.7 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Nashville, TN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — vs WeGo Public Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.5
+9% in Augusta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$16.83
+49% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TN)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Augusta vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Nashville?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Nashville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Nashville?
Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).