Cost of Living: Columbus vs Nashville (2026)

Columbus vs Nashville cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Nashville is about 1% more expensive than Columbus overall — $100,000 in Columbus is worth about $100,910 in Nashville.

Nashville is about 1% more expensive than Columbus overall — $100,000 in Columbus is worth about $100,910 in Nashville.

Columbus vs Nashville: the numbers

MetricColumbusNashvilleDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9596+1%
Median rent$1,224$1,486+21%
Median home value$234,500$383,100+63%
Median household income$65,327$75,197+15%

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 Columbus has the same buying power as about $100,910 in Nashville. Going the other way, $100,000 in Nashville is like $99,098 in Columbus.

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

Compare any salary: Columbus vs Nashville

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Nashville is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 96 vs 95 — a 1% difference. Your money goes further in Columbus.

About $100,910 — that's what you'd need in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Columbus.