Chicago vs Nashville
Chicago, IL · Nashville, TN
Chicago and Nashville have similar costs of living.
Home Price
Chicago: $315,000
Nashville: $445,000
Monthly Rent
Chicago: $2,288/mo
Nashville: $1,556/mo
COL Index
Chicago: 114
Nashville: 112
Median Income
Chicago: $70,100
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 Chicago has the same purchasing power as $98,246 in Nashville — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Nashville are 41% cheaper (-$130,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Nashville saves you $732/month — $8,784 per year. Median rent: $2,288/mo in Chicago vs $1,556/mo in Nashville.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Chicago owners pay roughly $6,615/year in property taxes vs $3,071/year in Nashville. That's a $3,545 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $70,100 in Chicago and $72,200 in Nashville. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 31 minutes in Chicago vs 27 minutes in Nashville. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Chicago to Nashville, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Chicago | Equivalent in Nashville | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,123 | -$877 |
| $75,000 | $73,684 | -$1,316 |
| $100,000 | $98,246 | -$1,754 |
| $150,000 | $147,368 | -$2,632 |
| $200,000 | $196,491 | -$3,509 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Chicago Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Chicago vs Nashville: Common Questions
Is Chicago or Nashville cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Nashville is cheaper overall. Chicago has a COL index of 114 while Nashville scores 112 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Chicago and Nashville?
The median home price in Chicago is $315,000 vs $445,000 in Nashville — a difference of $130,000 (41%).
What salary do I need in Nashville to match my Chicago income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Chicago is equivalent to $98,246 in Nashville in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Nashville has a lower property tax rate (0.69% vs 2.1%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,071/year vs $6,615/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.