Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Nashville?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Nashville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $53,000 in Nashville.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Nashville?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Boise vs Nashville Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,490 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 8% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,341

+31% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,336

+18% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,478

+10% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,832

+5% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$383,100

+16% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$75,197

+8% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$50,390

+3% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.4 yr

+3.8 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

53.0%

+10.0 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

46.9%

+0.3 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

19.1 min

24.9 min

+5.8 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

1,178.7

+292% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

1,135.1

4,558.5

+302% 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

52.5°F

59.4°F

+6.9°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

47.3 in

+35.5 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) 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)

12.3

14.5

+17% in Nashville, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$16.83

+56% in Nashville, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Boise, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / TN)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

None

+5.3 pp in ID

Boise vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Nashville?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Nashville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Nashville?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).