Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Spokane?

Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $36,000 in Spokane.

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Spokane?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Nashville vs Spokane Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 13% higher in Nashville, TN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$884

+34% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$903

+32% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,192

+19% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,442

+21% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$326,200

+15% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$65,745

+13% in Nashville, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$54,660

+8% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

37.2 yr

+2.8 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

53.0%

58.3%

+5.3 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

32.6%

+14.3 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

24.9 min

21.2 min

+3.7 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

683.6

+42% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

4,558.5

4,931.8

+8% in Spokane, WA

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

48.9°F

+10.5°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

17.8 in

+29.5 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.12/gal

+30% in Spokane, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

14.9

+3% in Spokane, WA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$20.41

+21% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Spokane, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Nashville vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Spokane?: Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in Spokane?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Spokane?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).