Nashville is one of those cities where you might catch a famous country singer at your neighborhood bar on a random Tuesday. Between the music scene and a fast-growing job market, it’s easy to see why renters keep moving here. The cost of living has been a big part of the pull, too.
The city's median rent sits at $1,358 as of July 2026. Rents here have climbed steadily over the last year, but they’re still well below major East Coast cities like Boston, MA ($2,492 median rent), or Miami, FL ($1,908 median rent). If you’re following the 30% rule, Nashville’s median rent calls for a $54,324 salary to keep housing costs from cutting into your lifestyle.
The cost of living here runs 4.7% higher than the US average and 16.5% higher than the average for Tennessee. So, while it’s less expensive than the coasts, it’s not exactly cheap.
And it’s not enough to know if Nashville is affordable. You need to know if it’s affordable for you.
This guide breaks down what it costs to live here in 2026: rent by neighborhood, everyday expenses, and the salary that makes it all work.
The average rent in Nashville ranges from $1,617 for a studio to $2,530 for a three-bedroom apartment as of July 2026. The actual amount you’ll spend per month depends on what neighborhood you pick, how new your building is, and add-ons like pet rent and parking.
Here’s what you can expect to pay in rent each month in Nashville, based on bedroom count.
| Bedroom count | Average monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,617 |
| One-bedroom apartment | $1,736 |
| Two-bedroom apartment | $2,262 |
| Three-bedroom apartment | $2,530 |
If you’re a single adult living alone, you’d need to earn about $54,324/year (roughly $4,527/month, or $28.29/hour) to comfortably afford Nashville’s median rent of $1,358, according to the 30% rule.
Keep in mind, 30% is more of a baseline than a hard-and-fast rule. Where you live, who you live with, and your lifestyle all shape what you’ll really need to earn.
According to BestPlaces, a family needs $6,600/month ($79,200/year) to comfortably afford living in Nashville, while a single person needs $4,367/month ($52,404/year). MIT’s Living Wage calculator suggests an annual salary of $51,095 for a single adult with no kids and $106,563 for a family of four before taxes.
| Status | Suggested monthly income* |
|---|---|
| Single adult, no kids | $4,257.92 |
| Two adults, no kids | $5,612.75 |
| Two adults, two kids | $8,880.25 |
*based on MIT Living Wage data.
Want to crunch some realistic numbers? Use our Rent Calculator and Cost of Living Calculator to see where your income lands you.
Rent alone doesn’t cover the full scope of how much you’ll pay every month. Add these other costs to your budget before making your move to Nashville:
| Extra Cost | What It Is | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Renter’s insurance | Covers personal property damage from fire, smoke, theft, vandalism, water damage, and more. | $13-$18/month |
| Application fee | A nonrefundable fee to process your rental application, helping landlords filter for serious renters. | $30-$100, one-time payment |
| Parking & building amenities | Monthly cost to reserve parking onsite, or access to building amenities like an on-site gym. | $50-$150/month |
| Pet deposit | A refundable one-time fee used to cover any damage to the property caused by the pet. | $200-$400 per pet |
| Pet rent | Recurring monthly charge added to your base rent for having a pet. | $25-$75/month, per pet |
| Security deposit | A refundable upfront payment held by the landlord to cover damage or unpaid rent. | First + last months’ rent |
Look out for add-ons like valet trash, pest control, and package handling. They’re usually added to your lease agreement right before signing.
One note on security deposits: Tennessee laws don’t dictate a maximum, so landlords can charge as much as they want. But usually, two months’ rent is the expectation.
Nashville has a cost of living score of 104.7 from BestPlaces—meaning it’s 4.7% higher than the national average. Compared to the Tennessee average, Nashville’s cost of living is 16.5% higher.
Here’s how the cost of living in Nashville compares to the state and national averages:
| Cost of Living | Nashville Average | Tennessee Average | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104.7 | 89.9 | 100 |
| Grocery | 102 | 95.4 | 100 |
| Health | 99.4 | 100.4 | 100 |
| Housing | 117.1 | 79.4 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $413,200 | $277,400 | $338,100 |
| Utilities | 99.3 | 96.7 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100.7 | 90.2 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 99.9 | 84.7 | 100 |
Use our Cost of Living Calculator to break down what you’ll actually spend in Nashville based on your lifestyle. And once you know your budget, our Rent Calculator tells you exactly how much rent you should be paying based on your income.
Nashville’s most coveted neighborhoods come with the steepest price tags. In SoBro (South Broadway) and Germantown, the average one-bedroom rent runs at $2,299 and $2,306, respectively.
In these neighborhoods, the lifestyle is the major draw. But more lifestyle perks often come with a higher price tag—luxury amenities and living a short walk away from shops and restaurants don’t come cheap. If a trendy neighborhood is non-negotiable for you, splitting a place with roommates is one way to keep rent in check.
Two of Nashville’s most affordable neighborhoods include Talbot’s Corner and Antioch. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in each neighborhood, as of July 2026, is $1,188 and $1,103, respectively.
Nashville’s cost of living score of 104.7 is higher than the national average, but next to some of the country’s biggest metros, it starts to look like a bargain. Here’s how it stacks up against six other major US cities.
| City | Cost of living score |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | 113.3 |
| Boston | 150.8 |
| Charlotte | 102.5 |
| Chicago | 105.7 |
| Miami | 118.9 |
| Seattle | 158.1 |
Is Nashville, TN, Affordable For Renters? Nashville is considered an affordable city for renters. It ranks as the 60th most expensive city in the U.S.—San Francisco holds the #1 spot, and Toledo, Ohio, is at #100.
The city’s median rent is at $1,358 in July 2026; just 2.0% below the national median of $1,385.
Median rent reflects the midpoint of the market, while average listing prices often look inflated because they include everything from cheap studios to high-end luxury rentals. Median and average rents measure two different things, which is why they sometimes look different.
| Typical expense | Annual cost for single adult, no kids |
|---|---|
| Transportation (car only) | $9,452 |
| Groceries | $4,682 |
| Child care | $0 |
| Healthcare | $3,240 |
| Internet & mobile | $1,855 |
| Taxes | $7,561 |
All figures sourced from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.
According to data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single adult with no kids spends an average of $9,452/year on transportation, while a family of four spends an average of $15,855/year.
Nashville has no other public transit service beyond its bus lines, so if you’re considering an apartment outside of downtown, having your own car is probably your best option.
Public transportation in Nashville is handled by the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority, also known as WeGo Public Transit. It offers bus services to residents and private paratransit services for passengers with disabilities. A full-day ticket costs $4 for an adult passenger or about $65 for a monthly pass. Tickets for two hours (unlimited) or one ride cost $2.
According to the MIT living wage estimates, a single adult without children will spend an average of $4,682/year on food. A family of two working adults with two children will spend $13,701.
Dining out? Expect to spend at least $18.50 per meal at an inexpensive restaurant without any extras. A meal for two at a midrange restaurant will cost about $77.50, plus tip, for a three-course meal without drinks.
Child care costs are expensive everywhere, and Nashville is no exception. MIT’s latest data shows that two working adults will spend $8,584 annually for one child. For two children, that amount jumps to $17,168.
One adult without children living in Nashville can expect to spend $3,240/year on healthcare costs, while a family of two adults with two children will spend $11,058/year.
Your utilities in Nashville will depend on your usage, the season, and what’s included in your rent. Based on the latest Numbeo data, utility bills in Nashville average $215.10 for water, gas, garbage, and electricity. During the summer, your utility bill may be higher if you’re running the A/C every day. Always check your lease agreement to see if utilities like water and internet are included in your rent.
If you add a cell phone plan ($79.98) and high-speed Internet, unlimited data, and cable/ADSL ($77.14), your total utility costs jump to $372.22/month.
A gym membership in Nashville costs about $54.76/month, or $657.12/year, per adult. Keep in mind that many gyms add application and first-time membership fees, so factor those into your budget, too.
Outdoor recreation is mostly free, and there’s plenty of it: The Warner Parks alone span 3,100 acres of forest and fields, making them some of the largest parks in the state.
Then there’s entertainment, which is kind of the whole point of living here. Walk down Broadway, and you’ll pass venue after venue showcasing local talent. Most of the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway offer free live music, too—just bring cash to tip the band. For a proper night out, the Ryman Auditorium is one of the oldest and most storied stages in town, the kind of room artists fight to book. And when a show goes big, it goes to Nissan Stadium.
Nashville’s city sales tax rate is 9.75%, with 7% allocated to Tennessee’s state sales tax and 2.75% dedicated to Davidson County’s local sales tax. Tennessee currently doesn’t have an individual state income tax, but does have higher property taxes and a high sales tax.
While the cost of living in Nashville is slightly higher than the Tennessee average, there are still plenty of cheap neighborhoods for renters. Talbot’s Corner, Antioch, and Charlotte Park have some of the lowest rents in Nashville:
| Neighborhood | Average One-Bedroom Rent | Average Two-Bedroom Rent | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot’s Corner | $1,188 | $1,485 | Families who want suburban comfort close to downtown |
| Charlotte Park | $1,284 | $1,504 | Renters who want to live in an up-and-coming area |
| Antioch | $1,103 | $1,494 | Renters who want more square footage and a noteworthy international dining scene |
Curious what fits your budget? Our Rent Calculator helps you figure out how much to spend based on your income and which Nashville neighborhood is calling to you.
According to Apartment List data, SoBro (South Broadway), Downtown Nashville, and Germantown are some of Nashville’s most expensive neighborhoods. The lifestyle perks are real here, and even with the higher price tag, renters consider these some of the best neighborhoods in Nashville.
| Neighborhood | Average One-Bedroom Rent | Average Two-Bedroom Rent | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoBro | $2,299 | $3,374 | Nightlife, live music, and high-rise luxury apartments |
| Germantown | $2,306 | $3,342 | Trendy dining, historic character, and green space |
| Melrose | $2,124 | $2,890 | Walkability, budget-friendly eats, and nightlife |
| Downtown Nashville | $2,052 | $3,266 | Walkability, historic charm, and city energy |
These rents ask a lot, but a little strategy goes a long way. Search during the slower winter months, or push your radius a few blocks past the core, and you might find friendlier pricing in the same part of town.
We used internal Apartment List inventory data and cross-referenced it with neighborhood data from Rent.com to give you the most accurate snapshot of rents across Nashville as of July 2026. Cost of Living figures are sourced from BestPlaces and Numbeo; living wage estimates are sourced from the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
As of July 2026, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Nashville is $1,736, and a two-bedroom apartment is $2,262, per Apartment List data.
The cheapest rent in Nashville in our database is in Antioch, where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,103/month.
According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single adult with no children needs at least $51,095/year before taxes to live comfortably in Nashville. Most expenses are in line with national averages, but the overall cost of living is 4.7% above the national average.
A single Nashville resident without children can expect to spend an average of $4,682 on food, $3,240 on healthcare, and $9,452 on car-based transportation each year, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.
A good salary for a single adult with no kids in Nashville is $51,095 (before taxes), according to MIT’s latest data.
A family of two adults with two kids should earn $106,563 annually, before taxes, to comfortably live in Nashville based on MIT data.
If you’re a single adult living alone, you’d need to earn $4,527/month to comfortably afford Nashville’s median rent of $1,358, according to the 30% rule.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator suggests a family of four needs $8,880.25/month, and a couple with no kids needs $5,612.75/month, before taxes.
The U.S. Census Bureau shows Nashville’s median household income is $80,090, but what qualifies as a “good” salary depends on your lifestyle and who you live with.
If you’re sticking to the 30% rule, you’d need to earn $69,440/year to comfortably afford the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment of $1,736.
The 30% rule suggests spending no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on rent.
Our Rent Calculator tells you exactly how much rent you should be paying based on your income.
Nashville’s rental market can be competitive during peak times like the summer months, but there’s plenty of new construction in the city, so finding a place isn’t too hard. Popular areas like SoBro, Germantown, and Downtown Nashville fill up fast, so it pays to move quickly when you spot the right one.
According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single adult with no children in Nashville should earn an annual salary of $51,095 before taxes. For two working adults with two children, the suggested living wage is $106,563 before taxes.
Whether or not utilities are included varies. Check with your landlord before signing your lease to confirm what’s included in the rent. Some units might include utilities like water and electricity, while others may require you to pay separately.
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