Quick answer
Nashville is 33% cheaper than Raleigh overall. A $100K salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $67,000 in Nashville.
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh vs Nashville Cost of Living (2026)
Side-by-side cost comparison plus a salary calculator to find your equivalent pay in either city.
Overall COL difference
Nashville is 33% cheaper
1BR rent difference
+3% (B vs A)
$100K in A = in B
$67,000
Raleigh vs Nashville: Side-by-Side
1BR median rent
$1,480/mo
$1,520/mo
+3%
2BR median rent
$1,860/mo
$1,950/mo
+5%
Median home price
$420K
$445K
+6%
Avg monthly groceries
$350
$355
+1%
Avg monthly utilities
$145
$160
+10%
State income tax
4.5%
None
Nashville saves
Walk score
34/100
28/100
Raleigh better
Transit score
25/100
22/100
Raleigh better
Salary Equivalency Calculator
How much you need to earn in Nashville to maintain the same standard of living as your current Raleigh salary — and vice versa.
$60,000
$40,000
$89,000
$80,000
$54,000
$119,000
$100,000
$67,000
$148,000
$120,000
$81,000
$178,000
$150,000
$101,000
$222,000
Calculated using a weighted index: rent (40%), home prices (20%), groceries (20%), utilities (10%), state income tax (10%). Individual lifestyles vary.
Monthly Budget: Raleigh vs Nashville
Who Each City Is Best For
Raleigh is best for
- ✓tech workers
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓researchers
- ✓young families
Nashville is best for
- ✓healthcare workers
- ✓music industry professionals
- ✓entrepreneurs
- ✓young professionals
FAQs
Is Raleigh or Nashville cheaper to live in?
Nashville is 33% cheaper than Raleigh overall. Nashville 1BR rent ($1,520/mo) vs Raleigh ($1,480/mo). Median home price: Nashville $445K vs Raleigh $420K.
How much salary do I need in Nashville to match $100K in Raleigh?
$67,000 in Nashville is equivalent to $100,000 in Raleigh based on cost of living differences. The biggest factors are rent (+3% difference) and state taxes (Raleigh: 4.5% vs Nashville: None).
What is the rent difference between Raleigh and Nashville?
1BR: Raleigh $1,480/mo vs Nashville $1,520/mo (+3%). 2BR: Raleigh $1,860/mo vs Nashville $1,950/mo (+5%).
Does Raleigh or Nashville have lower taxes?
Raleigh (NC) has 4.5% state income tax. Nashville (TN) has None state income tax. On a $100K salary, the annual tax difference is ~$4,500.