Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Wichita?

Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Nashville vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville, TN and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 16% higher in Nashville, TN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Nashville, TN

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,341

$726

+46% in Nashville, TN

1 Bedroom

$1,336

$761

+43% in Nashville, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,478

$976

+34% in Nashville, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,832

$1,199

+35% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$383,100

$179,500

+53% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$75,197

$63,072

+16% in Nashville, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,390

$47,630

+5% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

35.7 yr

+1.3 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

53.0%

58.4%

+5.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.9%

30.9%

+16.0 pp in Nashville, TN

Avg Commute

24.9 min

18.9 min

+6.0 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,178.7

1,238.7

+5% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

4,558.5

5,284.9

+16% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+2.4°F in Nashville, TN

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

32.6 in

+14.6 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

15.1

+5% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$25.12

+49% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Nashville, TN

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Nashville vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashville or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashville than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Nashville versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Nashville or Wichita?: Nashville is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).