Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Warwick?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Nashville vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,500/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,500 in Nashville, TN versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 14% higher in Warwick, RI. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$923

+31% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$1,085

+19% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,629

+10% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,569

+14% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$322,000

+16% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$87,536

+16% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$53,680

+7% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

44.6 yr

+10.2 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

53.0%

73.4%

+20.4 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

33.2%

+13.7 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

24.9 min

25.0 min

+0.1 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

79.5

+93% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

4,558.5

1,149.5

+75% 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

51.6°F

+7.8°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

47.2 in

+0.1 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Warwick, RI

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)

14.1

29.2

+108% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.75

$25.75

+30% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Warwick, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / RI)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Nashville vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in Warwick?: 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 Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Warwick?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% 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).