Cost of Living: Houston vs Nashville (2026)

Houston vs Nashville cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Nashville is about 2% less expensive than Houston overall — $100,000 in Houston is worth about $97,677 in Nashville.

Nashville is about 2% less expensive than Houston overall — $100,000 in Houston is worth about $97,677 in Nashville.

Houston vs Nashville: the numbers

MetricHoustonNashvilleDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9996-2%
Median rent$1,313$1,486+13%
Median home value$253,400$383,100+51%
Median household income$62,894$75,197+20%

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 Houston has the same buying power as about $97,677 in Nashville. Going the other way, $100,000 in Nashville is like $102,378 in Houston.

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

Compare any salary: Houston vs Nashville

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Houston is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 99 vs 96 — a 2% difference. Your money goes further in Nashville.

About $97,677 — that's what you'd need in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Houston.