Cost of Living: Charlotte vs Nashville (2026)

Charlotte vs Nashville cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Nashville is about 1% less expensive than Charlotte overall — $100,000 in Charlotte is worth about $98,962 in Nashville.

Nashville is about 1% less expensive than Charlotte overall — $100,000 in Charlotte is worth about $98,962 in Nashville.

Charlotte vs Nashville: the numbers

MetricCharlotteNashvilleDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9796-1%
Median rent$1,504$1,486-1%
Median home value$351,500$383,100+9%
Median household income$78,438$75,197-4%

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 Charlotte has the same buying power as about $98,962 in Nashville. Going the other way, $100,000 in Nashville is like $101,048 in Charlotte.

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

Compare any salary: Charlotte vs Nashville

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Charlotte is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 97 vs 96 — a 1% difference. Your money goes further in Nashville.

About $98,962 — that's what you'd need in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Charlotte.