Cost of Living in Nashville
United States
Comfortable budget (single)
$3,703/month
Range $2,338–$3,703/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Nashville?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Nashville for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$7
pint at pub
Lunch
$19.5
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$465
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$103
monthly pass
Gym
$49
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,754–$2,728 | ↑ +11% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $926–$1,462 | ↑ +11% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $73–$141 | ↑ +10% |
| Internet & Mobile | $29–$49 | ↑ +11% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $370–$555 | ↑ +11% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $49–$88 | ↑ +10% |
| Coffee | $4–$6 | ↑ +25% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $93–$112 | ↑ +11% |
| Gym membership | $34–$63 | ↑ +10% |
| Cinema ticket | $14–$18 | ↑ +14% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Nashville — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,754–$2,728/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$11,900
Buy outside (per m²)
$6,550
Price-to-rent ratio
20×
Avg mortgage rate
6.8%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Nashville center at ~$11,900/m² with a 25y loan at 6.8% would cost roughly $4,956/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Nashville. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $5,200 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $8,200 | ✅ Yes |
| Marketing manager | $5,500 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $4,500 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $5,800 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Nashville.
Utilize the WeGo Public Transit system, especially the WeGo Star commuter rail, for cost-effective travel into downtown Nashville from outlying areas.
For budget-friendly groceries, shop at Aldi locations across Nashville for significant savings on staples compared to larger chains.
Explore the free outdoor concerts and events at Centennial Park, home to the Parthenon, for affordable entertainment.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,338–$3,703/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
- Groceries: ~$555/mo
- Transport: ~$112/mo
Couple
$3,703–$5,651/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
- Groceries: ~$555/mo
- Transport: ~$112/mo
Family
$5,359–$8,282/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
- Groceries: ~$555/mo
- Transport: ~$112/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Nashville Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,193–$3,410/mo
Nashville Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,929–$3,001/mo
Nashville Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,403–$2,182/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • No state income tax
- • Music
- • Growth
❌ Cons
- • Bachelorette tourism
- • Rising costs
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.