Cost of Living: Boston vs Nashville (2026)

Boston vs Nashville cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Nashville is about 11% less expensive than Boston overall — $100,000 in Boston is worth about $88,983 in Nashville.

Nashville is about 11% less expensive than Boston overall — $100,000 in Boston is worth about $88,983 in Nashville.

Boston vs Nashville: the numbers

MetricBostonNashvilleDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)10896-11%
Median rent$2,093$1,486-29%
Median home value$710,400$383,100-46%
Median household income$94,755$75,197-21%

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 Boston has the same buying power as about $88,983 in Nashville. Going the other way, $100,000 in Nashville is like $112,381 in Boston.

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

Compare any salary: Boston vs Nashville

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Boston is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 108 vs 96 — a 11% difference. Your money goes further in Nashville.

About $88,983 — that's what you'd need in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston.