Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Nashville?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $53,000 in Nashville.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Nashville?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Columbia vs Nashville Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,500 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 26% higher in Nashville, TN. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,341

+67% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,336

+30% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,478

+27% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,832

+37% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$383,100

+57% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$75,197

+35% in Nashville, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$50,390

+9% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

34.4 yr

+5.7 yr in Nashville, TN

Homeownership

47.3%

53.0%

+5.7 pp in Nashville, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

46.9%

+0.8 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

17.4 min

24.9 min

+7.5 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

1,178.7

+53% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

3,265.1

4,558.5

+40% 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

64.9°F

59.4°F

+5.5°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

47.3 in

+1.9 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Columbia, SC

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)

15.6

14.1

+10% in Columbia, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$19.75

+32% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / TN)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Nashville?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Nashville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Nashville?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).