Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Pittsburgh?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Nashville vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Nashville, TN versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 15% higher in Nashville, TN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$1,109

+17% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$1,079

+19% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,269

+14% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,450

+21% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$193,200

+50% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$64,137

+15% in Nashville, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$49,650

+1% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

33.5 yr

+0.9 yr in Nashville, TN

Homeownership

53.0%

47.2%

+5.8 pp in Nashville, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

47.8%

+0.9 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

24.9 min

23.1 min

+1.8 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

436

+63% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

4,558.5

2,315.7

+49% 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

59.4°F

51.8°F

+7.6°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

39.3 in

+8.0 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Nashville, TN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

21.6

+49% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$19.17

+14% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / PA)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Nashville vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Pittsburgh?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).