City comparison
Boston vs Nashville Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Nashville (111.2).
Boston Index
144.3
Nashville Index
111.2
Boston Rent
$3,775
Nashville Rent
$2,450
Boston Home price
$722,000
Nashville Home price
$443,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Nashville.
Equivalent salary in Nashville
$92,474
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Nashville.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Nashville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 133 | -65.0 (-32.8%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 100 | -22.0 (-18.0%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 101 | -13.0 (-11.4%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 97 | -16.0 (-14.2%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 99 | -7.0 (-6.6%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 101 | -20.0 (-16.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $5,040
Boston / Nashville
Couple
$11,270 / $8,370
Boston / Nashville
Family
$15,890 / $11,790
Boston / Nashville
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Nashville city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Nashville.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.