Atlanta vs Nashville
Atlanta, GA · Nashville, TN
Atlanta and Nashville have similar costs of living.
Home Price
Atlanta: $385,000
Nashville: $445,000
Monthly Rent
Atlanta: $1,576/mo
Nashville: $1,556/mo
COL Index
Atlanta: 113
Nashville: 112
Median Income
Atlanta: $71,400
Nashville: $72,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Atlanta has the same purchasing power as $99,115 in Nashville — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Nashville are 16% cheaper (-$60,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Nashville saves you $20/month — $240 per year. Median rent: $1,576/mo in Atlanta vs $1,556/mo in Nashville.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Atlanta owners pay roughly $3,542/year in property taxes vs $3,071/year in Nashville. That's a $472 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $71,400 in Atlanta and $72,200 in Nashville. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 31 minutes in Atlanta vs 27 minutes in Nashville. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Atlanta to Nashville, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Atlanta | Equivalent in Nashville | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,558 | -$442 |
| $75,000 | $74,336 | -$664 |
| $100,000 | $99,115 | -$885 |
| $150,000 | $148,673 | -$1,327 |
| $200,000 | $198,230 | -$1,770 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Atlanta or Nashville
Atlanta Calculators
Nashville Calculators
Related Comparisons
Atlanta vs Nashville: Common Questions
Is Atlanta or Nashville cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Nashville is cheaper overall. Atlanta has a COL index of 113 while Nashville scores 112 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Atlanta and Nashville?
The median home price in Atlanta is $385,000 vs $445,000 in Nashville — a difference of $60,000 (16%).
What salary do I need in Nashville to match my Atlanta income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Atlanta is equivalent to $99,115 in Nashville in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Nashville has a lower property tax rate (0.69% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,071/year vs $3,542/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.