What is the cost of living in Nashville, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Nashville has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Nashville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Nashville ranks as #55 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Nashville ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Nashville, check out:
Nashville Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Nashville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Nashville is 99.
The Groceries index in Nashville is 100.
The Health index in Nashville is 83.
The Housing index in Nashville is 98.
The Transportation index in Nashville is 99.
The Utilities index in Nashville is 98.
| Living Expense | Nashville | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 83 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Nashville Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Nashville, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Nashville is $257,559.
The Median Rent in Nashville is $1,073.
The Median Income in Nashville is $61,000.
The Home Value To Income in Nashville is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Nashville is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Nashville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $257,559 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,073 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,000 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Nashville, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Nashville Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Nashville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Nashville Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Nashville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Nashville Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Nashville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Nashville Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Nashville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Nashville Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Nashville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Nashville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Nashville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Nashville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.2x Nashville.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Nashville.
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Nashville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 54,297 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 14,856 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.1x |
