Austin, TX vs Nashville, TN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Nashville, TN is 1.8% less expensive than Austin, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Austin works out to about $73,700 in Nashville, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 13.1% less in Nashville. Goods are 2.7% higher and other services 1.1% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in Nashville and $1,603 in Austin, $2,400 a year more in Nashville (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $449,000 in Nashville and $414,000 in Austin.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Nashville was 3.6% less expensive than Austin.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 13.1% lower in Nashville than in Austin
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
All items Austin, TX: 98.1 Nashville, TN: 96.3
Goods Austin, TX: 93.8 Nashville, TN: 96.2
Housing (rents) Austin, TX: 120.4 Nashville, TN: 104.6
Utilities Austin, TX: 82.0 Nashville, TN: 72.0
Other services Austin, TX: 96.2 Nashville, TN: 95.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.1 | 96.3 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 120.4 | 104.6 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.1 |
| Category | Austin | Nashville | Nashville vs Austin |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.1 | 96.3 | −1.8% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 | +2.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 120.4 | 104.6 | −13.1% |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 72.0 | −12.3% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.1 | −1.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,603 | $1,803 | +12.5% |
| Typical home value | $414,000 | $449,000 | +8.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Austin | $75,000 | $73,700 | −1.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Austin and Nashville has narrowed since 2008: 3.9 points then, 1.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.6 | 95.7 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 100.3 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 97.6 |
| 2014 | 101.4 | 97.3 |
| 2015 | 101.6 | 97.3 |
| 2016 | 102.6 | 99.3 |
| 2017 | 101.8 | 98.5 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 99.4 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 101.1 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 98.8 | 96.5 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 98.1 | 96.3 |
Goods
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 94.8 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 96.6 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 97.3 |
| 2015 | 97.0 | 96.2 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.0 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 96.7 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 94.5 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 94.3 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.0 | 89.4 |
| 2009 | 111.7 | 92.4 |
| 2010 | 108.1 | 91.5 |
| 2011 | 110.3 | 89.2 |
| 2012 | 115.2 | 89.8 |
| 2013 | 114.7 | 93.7 |
| 2014 | 117.7 | 91.2 |
| 2015 | 119.2 | 91.4 |
| 2016 | 122.7 | 98.8 |
| 2017 | 124.9 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 121.9 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 121.5 | 102.5 |
| 2020 | 124.5 | 107.0 |
| 2021 | 122.5 | 104.4 |
| 2022 | 126.3 | 105.3 |
| 2023 | 126.4 | 106.9 |
| 2024 | 120.4 | 104.6 |
Utilities
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.7 | 80.9 |
| 2009 | 94.4 | 81.2 |
| 2010 | 95.0 | 81.9 |
| 2011 | 90.2 | 84.5 |
| 2012 | 88.5 | 84.3 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 82.6 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 84.7 |
| 2015 | 90.8 | 84.0 |
| 2016 | 86.8 | 83.0 |
| 2017 | 82.7 | 81.1 |
| 2018 | 84.1 | 77.5 |
| 2019 | 85.7 | 75.7 |
| 2020 | 85.8 | 73.4 |
| 2021 | 85.8 | 75.7 |
| 2022 | 87.4 | 77.1 |
| 2023 | 89.2 | 76.6 |
| 2024 | 82.0 | 72.0 |
Other services
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.0 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 101.5 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.2 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.3 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 94.5 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 94.5 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.6 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 95.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in Nashville vs $1,603 in Austin
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,179 | $1,127 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,204 | $1,156 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,215 | $1,169 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,212 | $1,165 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,223 | $1,195 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,251 | $1,219 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,249 | $1,228 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,236 | $1,216 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,266 | $1,253 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,285 | $1,273 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,277 | $1,282 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,270 | $1,263 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,286 | $1,289 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,312 | $1,311 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,322 | $1,309 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,327 | $1,312 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,348 | $1,329 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,370 | $1,361 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,386 | $1,366 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,381 | $1,362 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,401 | $1,384 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,383 | $1,395 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,383 | $1,398 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,374 | $1,393 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,425 | $1,421 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,533 | $1,504 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,660 | $1,600 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,671 | $1,634 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,705 | $1,674 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,774 | $1,740 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,788 | $1,752 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,730 | $1,728 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,744 | $1,750 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,748 | $1,769 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,717 | $1,760 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,683 | $1,729 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,671 | $1,750 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,682 | $1,780 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,650 | $1,771 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,610 | $1,749 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,617 | $1,764 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,626 | $1,786 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,592 | $1,781 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,563 | $1,757 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,577 | $1,762 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,598 | $1,792 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,603 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $449,000 in Nashville vs $414,000 in Austin
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Austin, TX
- Nashville, TN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Austin, TX | Nashville, TN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $258K | $203K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $263K | $208K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $268K | $214K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $274K | $221K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $279K | $227K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $284K | $233K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $287K | $239K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $291K | $247K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $295K | $254K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $298K | $260K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $299K | $265K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $303K | $271K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $306K | $278K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $308K | $283K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $310K | $287K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $313K | $289K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $314K | $292K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $316K | $294K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $319K | $297K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $325K | $302K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $333K | $308K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $337K | $311K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $346K | $316K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $365K | $327K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $394K | $340K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $454K | $358K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $483K | $377K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $494K | $396K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $530K | $426K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $565K | $454K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $545K | $457K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $516K | $448K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $494K | $441K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $486K | $444K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $482K | $445K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $473K | $446K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $468K | $449K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $465K | $453K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $460K | $452K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $457K | $453K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $450K | $455K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $440K | $453K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $433K | $451K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $429K | $452K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $423K | $451K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $415K | $449K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $414K | $449K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Austin, TX
- Cost of living in Nashville, TN
- Reverse: moving from Nashville to Austin
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.