Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or West Valley City?

West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in West Valley City?

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 West Valley City.

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or West Valley City?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Nashville vs West Valley City Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,500/mo est.

West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 15% higher in West Valley City, UT. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$1,085

+19% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$1,191

+11% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,333

+10% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,723

+6% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$377,300

+2% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$88,604

+18% in West Valley City, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$55,240

+10% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

30.3 yr

+4.1 yr in Nashville, TN

Homeownership

53.0%

71.1%

+18.1 pp in West Valley City, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

15.7%

+31.2 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

24.9 min

22.2 min

+2.7 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

471.8

+60% in Nashville, TN

Property Crime

4,558.5

1,855.5

+59% 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

52.8°F

+6.6°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

16.1 in

+31.1 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.4

+5% in Nashville, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.75

$11.84

+40% in Nashville, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in West Valley City, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in West Valley City, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Nashville, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in West Valley City, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in West Valley City, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / UT)

6.1%

+0.9 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Nashville vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or West Valley City?: West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Nashville, TN's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in West Valley City?: 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 West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or West Valley City?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).