Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,500 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 16% higher in Nashville, TN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,341
+44% in Nashville, TN
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,336
+39% in Nashville, TN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,478
+31% in Nashville, TN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,832
+40% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$383,100
+85% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$75,197
+19% in Nashville, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$50,390
+2% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Nashville, TN
Homeownership
55.3%
53.0%
+2.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
46.9%
+12.7 pp in Nashville, TN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
24.9 min
+0.6 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
1,178.6
+26% in Nashville, TN
Property Crime
3,351.7
4,557.6
+36% 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
53.2°F
59.4°F
+6.2°F in Nashville, TN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
47.3 in
+4.8 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.35/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Nashville, TN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
15.1
+16% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$15.54
+24% in Nashville, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Nashville, TN
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Indianapolis, IN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / TN)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Indianapolis vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Nashville?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Nashville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Nashville?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).