Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

vs
Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,490 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Nashville, TN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 50% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL
Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$1,341
+22% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$1,336
+16% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,478
+22% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,832
+25% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$383,100
+25% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$75,197
+50% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$50,390
+8% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
34.4 yr
+5.7 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
53.0%
+21.3 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
46.9%
+24.8 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
24.9 min
+6.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
1,178.7
+1275% in Nashville, TN
Property Crime
892.2
4,558.5
+411% 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
49.9°F
59.4°F
+9.5°F in Nashville, TN
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
47.3 in
+10.3 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) 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)
23.9
14.5
+39% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$16.83
+9% in Nashville, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Nashville, TN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / TN)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Naperville vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Nashville?
Nashville, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Nashville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Nashville?
Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).