Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Nashville?

Nashville, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $53,000 in Nashville.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Nashville?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Nashville Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,500 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Nashville, TN is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 41% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,341

+40% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,336

+46% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,478

+50% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,832

+45% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$383,100

+63% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$75,197

+41% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$50,390

+24% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

34.4 yr

+3.9 yr in Nashville, TN

Homeownership

33.7%

53.0%

+19.3 pp in Nashville, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

46.9%

+33.3 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

24.9 min

+1.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

1,178.7

+170% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

2,657.6

4,558.5

+72% 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

51.5°F

59.4°F

+7.9°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

47.3 in

+3.5 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.85/gal

+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts 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)

29.6

14.1

+52% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$19.75

+36% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / TN)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

None

+9.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Nashville?: Nashville, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Nashville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Nashville?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).