Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Nashville

Tennessee

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,500 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 21% higher in Nashville, TN. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,341
+28% in Nashville, TN
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,336
+25% in Nashville, TN
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,478
+9% in Nashville, TN
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,832
+18% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$383,100
+75% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$75,197
+26% in Nashville, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$50,390
+15% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
53.0%
+5.5 pp in Nashville, TN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
46.9%
+11.5 pp in Nashville, TN
Avg Commute
29.4 min
24.9 min
+4.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,178.6
+27% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,557.6
+8% 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
61.4°F
59.4°F
+2.0°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
47.3 in
+4.8 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.35/gal
+1% in Nashville, TN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
15.1
+58% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$15.54
+10% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / TN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Nashville?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Nashville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Nashville?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).