Cost of Living: Austin vs Nashville (2026)

Austin vs Nashville cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Nashville is about 2% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $98,238 in Nashville.

Nashville is about 2% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $98,238 in Nashville.

Austin vs Nashville: the numbers

MetricAustinNashvilleDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9896-2%
Median rent$1,655$1,486-10%
Median home value$512,700$383,100-25%
Median household income$91,461$75,197-18%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $98,238 in Nashville. Going the other way, $100,000 in Nashville is like $101,794 in Austin.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Nashville.

Compare any salary: Austin vs Nashville

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Austin is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 98 vs 96 — a 2% difference. Your money goes further in Nashville.

About $98,238 — that's what you'd need in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Austin.