About 40% of Nashville renters spend over 30% of their income on housing, so you’ll want a clear budget before you move. You’ll see rent, utilities, groceries, transport, and healthcare add up quickly, and small choices—like sharing an apartment or cutting grocery waste—can change your monthly needs. I’ll walk through typical costs and what salary keeps you comfortable, plus practical ways to lower expenses so you can plan smarter.
Quick Nashville Cost of Living Snapshot
One clear way to size up Nashville’s cost of living is to look at typical monthly expenses: expect about $1,660 for a one‑bedroom rent (neighborhoods vary), roughly $335 for utilities and connectivity, $1,200 for groceries, and around $60 for a mid‑range meal for two; add average health insurance of $560 plus doctor and dental visits (about $130 and $106 respectively).
With those figures, you can build a realistic monthly budget: average rent plus utilities in Nashville and your monthly grocery bill will be the largest line items. Include dining out costs sparingly if you want to save.
Compare totals to median household income to see affordability; to live comfortably you’d need roughly $73,600 annually, based on a 30% housing rule and those monthly expenses.
Use this snapshot to plan priorities, adjust discretionary spending, and test scenarios like sharing housing or trimming grocery costs to reach comfortable living without surprises.
Housing: Rent, Home Prices, and Neighborhood Differences
When you’re comparing where to live in Nashville, expect median home prices around $450K–$500K with luxury pockets like Green Hills topping $1M and lower-priced areas like Woodbine and Cumberland Gardens in the high $300Ks–low $400Ks.
Renting shows similar gaps: citywide one-bedrooms average about $1,660 and two-bedrooms $2,292, while Downtown one-bedrooms run closer to $2,341.
Don’t forget to add roughly $188 in monthly utilities when calculating total housing costs.
Median Home Prices
Median home prices in Nashville typically fall between $450,000 and $500,000, though neighborhoods like Green Hills push averages toward $1 million. Condos often sit in the low-to-mid $400s.
You’ll see the Nashville housing market split between high-end pockets and more affordable Nashville options, so plan around the median home price when budgeting.
Housing costs include mortgage, homeowners insurance ($2,400–$2,500/yr), and property taxes, while renters face average rent and renters insurance (~$24/month). Use these figures to compare buying vs renting based on your needs.
- Compare median home price to Nashville average rent and one-bedroom average rent.
- Factor homeowners insurance and property taxes into monthly payment estimates.
- Expect large variation by neighborhood.
- Prioritize must-haves vs price.
Neighborhood Rent Differences
Having looked at median home prices, you’ll want to compare how rent stacks up across Nashville’s neighborhoods. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,660, but rental prices swing widely by neighborhood.
Downtown averages $2,341 for a one-bedroom, while affordable options like Talbot’s Corner are near $1,045. Luxury neighborhoods such as Green Hills align with roughly $1 million median home price, reinforcing higher rents, whereas Woodbine and Cumberland Gardens reflect lower home values and generally cheaper rents.
A two-bedroom apartment averages around $2,292, so sharing or choosing a studio can produce meaningful savings. Use these neighborhood differences to balance commute, amenities and cost against the broader Nashville housing market and your budget.
Monthly Utilities, Internet, and Phone Costs
Expect to pay about $190 a month for electricity in Nashville, with water adding roughly $36.
Internet plans run around $70 monthly and unlimited mobile service averages $45, so your connected costs will be about $115.
Combined with utilities, that puts average monthly spending on electricity, water, internet, and phone near $336.
Monthly Electricity Averages
On average, you’ll pay about $190 a month for electricity in Nashville, with water adding roughly $36 and internet and phone service typically costing around $70 and $45 respectively.
For residents managing a monthly budget, that puts the average monthly utility bill near $336. Your electricity bill will vary with season, home size, and usage habits, so tracking consumption helps control costs. Expect higher bills in summer due to AC.
- Compare providers and plans to find lower rates.
- Seal leaks and upgrade insulation to cut usage.
- Use smart thermostats and LED lighting to lower the average cost.
- Monitor bills monthly to spot spikes and adjust behavior.
These steps keep utility costs predictable and affordable.
Internet Plan Costs
Alongside electricity and water, internet and phone service make up a predictable portion of your monthly bills in Nashville — the average internet plan runs about $70 a month while unlimited mobile plans hover near $45.
You should treat internet service as an essential service when building a monthly budget because it’s one of the few unavoidable communication expenses many households need for work, school, streaming, and smart-home devices.
With electricity averaging $190 and water about $36, combined utility costs often exceed $335, so the internet’s average monthly cost pushes total expenses higher.
To manage bills, compare ISPs, consider bundled offers, and review speed needs — cutting a few dollars from internet or other utility costs can improve cash flow without sacrificing service.
Mobile Phone Pricing
A typical unlimited mobile plan in Nashville runs about $45 a month, and you should factor that into your monthly utilities alongside the average $70 internet bill and roughly $188 in other utility costs.
When you tally a mobile phone service plan with internet and basic utilities, the overall monthly utility expenses reach about $336, a useful figure for budgeting living expenses in Nashville.
Treat mobile and internet as essential services: they’re part of the higher cost of living here and affect your monthly cash flow.
Consider these practical points when planning:
- Choose unlimited plans only if you use high data.
- Compare carriers for the best average monthly cost.
- Bundle internet and phone to lower utility costs.
- Factor these into Nashville living budgets.
Food and Grocery Budget — Eating In and Dining Out
Because food choices drive a big portion of your monthly budget in Nashville, it’s useful to break costs down: the average household spends about $1,200 on groceries each month, a single adult spends roughly $4,564 a year, and a family of two adults plus one child spends about $11,254 annually.
You’ll find Nashville food costs are slightly above the national average, so expect a higher grocery bill than in many other cities. Common grocery items illustrate why: a gallon of milk runs about $4.63, a dozen eggs $3.32, and ground beef $7.05 per pound.
If you cook most meals, plan around that $1,200 baseline and shop sales to control spending. Dining out adds variability: fast-food meals cost roughly $10 while a mid-range restaurant meal for two averages about $60.
Balance eating in and dining out based on your budget — a mix of home-cooked meals and occasional restaurant nights keeps costs predictable without sacrificing convenience.
Transportation, Healthcare, and Childcare Expenses
Transportation, healthcare, and childcare make up a large, predictable slice of your monthly budget in Nashville, and you should plan accordingly:
Average transportation runs about $1,530 per month (including gas, insurance, and maintenance). Family healthcare averages roughly $1,365 monthly with typical doctor visits around $122.71 and dentist visits about $110.37.
Childcare is costly — infant care averages $933/month, toddler care about $867/month, while nannies typically charge around $19/hour.
You’ll weigh driving against public transportation: WeGo offers $2 two-hour and $4 all-day fares, with a monthly pass near $65, which can trim transportation costs if you can avoid daily driving.
Average monthly healthcare costs cover premiums, copays, and prescriptions; track doctor and dentist visit frequencies against plan benefits.
Childcare expenses vary by provider; infant care is the priciest, and the average nanny rate reflects flexibility and higher hourly costs.
Prioritize these necessary expenses when building your budget.
- Compare driving vs public transportation
- Factor monthly pass savings
- Audit average monthly healthcare costs
- Budget for infant care or nanny time
What Salary You Need and Money-Saving Tips
If you want to live comfortably in Nashville, aim for at least $73,600 a year — that keeps housing near the 30% rule given the city’s average one-bedroom rent of about $1,840.
With that salary, build a monthly budget that allocates roughly $1,840 for rent, $336 for utility costs, $380 for grocery costs, and smaller amounts for transport, insurance, and savings. Track essential expenses and cut discretionary spending first.
Money-saving tips: consider roommate situations or neighborhoods with lower rent to free cash for savings.
Use WeGo public transportation — a $65 monthly pass beats car ownership for many commutes. Shop with lists, buy staples in bulk, and meal-plan to trim grocery costs.
Negotiate bills, compare internet and insurance rates, and set automatic transfers to a high-yield savings account.
These practical steps align your salary to the Nashville cost of living and help you stay financially resilient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Nashville, TN?
You’ll need about $73,600 annually to live comfortably in Nashville. Use a cost breakdown covering housing options, transportation expenses, grocery prices, healthcare costs, utility bills, dining expenses, entertainment budget, education expenses, and savings tips.
What Is the Average Cost of Living in Tennessee per Month?
A stitch in time saves nine — you’ll pay about $3,539 monthly in Tennessee, reflecting cost comparison across housing prices, grocery expenses, transportation costs, utility bills, healthcare fees, entertainment options, dining expenses, education costs, tax implications.
How Much to Budget for Nashville?
You should budget about $6,100 monthly for Nashville housing, monthly expenses, transportation costs, grocery prices, utilities budget, entertainment spending, healthcare expenses, dining out, lifestyle choices, and a savings plan to live comfortably.
How Much Money Should I Save to Move to Nashville?
You should save about $73,600, covering moving expenses, first month’s rent and deposits; include an emergency fund, utility bills, grocery prices, transportation costs, entertainment expenses, lifestyle choices, research job market, housing options and neighborhood differences.
Conclusion
You’ve seen the numbers: about $1,660 monthly rent, $335 utilities, and $1,200 groceries lead to a roughly $73,600 annual target if you follow the 30% rule. Prioritize housing and food, consider roommates, trim grocery spending, and use public transit to cut costs. Like a pocket watch guiding a busy traveler, these data-driven steps keep you on track — practical moves you can start today to live comfortably in Nashville while building savings.
