S T SalaryCompareTool

Cost of living in Nashville, TN

Livability score 63 · cost-of-living index 97.0 (US = 100)

Nashville, TN
Photo: Quintin Soloviev via Commons · CC BY 4.0

How Nashville compares

Where Nashville falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 97 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 97 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $456k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $456k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $228 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $228 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.55% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.55% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 600 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 600 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.9 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.9 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30°

Map of Nashville

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 97.0 metro-area #111 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 94.3 metro-area #43 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.52 metro-area #110 of 200
Median household income $79,020 metro-area #63 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $43,535 metro-area #58 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 36.8 years metro-area #57 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 39.9% metro-area #42 of 200
Foreign-born residents 9.3% metro-area #81 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 65.6% metro-area #110 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 3.80% metro-area #20 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +8.8% metro-area #33 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $455,958 metro-area #159 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.8× metro-area #154 of 200
1-yr home appreciation -0.9% metro-area #155 of 200
Price per square foot $228 metro-area #144 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,798 metro-area #137 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 10,672
Median days on market 22 metro-area #128 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 7.6% state #2 of 200
Combined sales tax 9.55% state #189 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 0.55% metro-area #26 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,888 metro-area #58 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 75.8 years metro-area #127 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 state #17 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 10.5% metro-area #131 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 70 metro-area #125 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 state #25 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $55 state #13 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail Statewide testing ended 2022
DMV & license offices 14
Avg commute to work 28 min metro-area #169 of 200
Commute by driving alone 72.6% metro-area #68 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 43.7% metro-area #176 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 14.9¢/kWh state #32 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $134 state #32 of 200
Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $121 state #132 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $2,200 state #129 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 84.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #66 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 51 metro-area #138 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,700 metro-area #128 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,600 metro-area #94 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 40 metro-area #118 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200
Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200
Annual precipitation 50.5" metro-area #162 of 200
Annual snowfall 4.7" metro-area #83 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 56% metro-area #132 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 7a
Frost window 04-10 → 11-01

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 600 state #185 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 58 metro-area #106 of 200
Parks 31
Hiking areas 22
Golf courses 22
Shooting ranges 8
Lakes 2

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Nashville

Major public and private employers in the Nashville, TN area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Healthcare Search →
State of Tennessee Government Search →
Nissan North America automotive Careers →
HCA Healthcare Healthcare Search →
Metro Nashville Government Government Search →
Ascension Healthcare Search →

Salaries by occupation in Nashville

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $150,210
Financial Managers $135,540
Lawyers $134,380
Pharmacists $133,520
Marketing Managers $130,460
Human Resources Managers $122,040
Software Developers $119,380
Physician Assistants $119,280
General & Operations Managers $101,750
Physical Therapists $99,860
Civil Engineers $97,660
Data Scientists $97,290
Mechanical Engineers $96,680
Construction Managers $89,300
Dental Hygienists $84,350
Web Developers $79,400
Registered Nurses $78,020
Accountants & Auditors $76,440
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,220
Electricians $58,430
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $55,630
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,650
Elementary School Teachers $52,580
Carpenters $51,580
Graphic Designers $49,660
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,110
Medical Assistants $39,760
Real Estate Sales Agents $38,080

Find a job in Nashville

Cities in the Nashville area

Ad · affiliate links

Compare Nashville with…

More TN metros →