Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Reno?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Nashville vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 4% higher in Reno, NV. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$964

+28% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$1,206

+10% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,518

+3% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,885

+3% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$498,600

+30% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$78,448

+4% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$49,660

+1% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

37.3 yr

+2.9 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

53.0%

49.4%

+3.6 pp in Nashville, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

35.7%

+11.2 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

24.9 min

20.6 min

+4.3 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

528.9

+55% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

4,558.5

2,489.3

+45% 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

53.8°F

+5.6°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

7.4 in

+39.9 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

13.6

+6% in Nashville, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$12.09

+28% in Nashville, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Nashville vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Reno?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).