Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Nashville?

Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $53,000 in Nashville.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Nashville?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Nashville under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Nashville Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $1,500 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Dallas, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 10% higher in Nashville, TN. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,341

+7% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,336

+4% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,478

+1% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,832

+18% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$383,100

+30% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$75,197

+11% in Nashville, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$50,390

+2% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.4 yr

+1.0 yr in Nashville, TN

Homeownership

42.4%

53.0%

+10.6 pp in Nashville, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

46.9%

+9.5 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

26.0 min

24.9 min

+1.1 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.7

1,178.6

+78% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

3,411.8

4,557.6

+34% 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

67.2°F

59.4°F

+7.8°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

47.3 in

+9.7 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.35/gal

+10% in Nashville, TN

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.00

+20% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.1

+8% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$15.54

+37% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / TN)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Dallas vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Nashville?: Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Nashville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Nashville?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).