City comparison
Houston vs Nashville Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Nashville (111.2).
Houston Index
105.8
Nashville Index
111.2
Houston Rent
$2,175
Nashville Rent
$2,450
Houston Home price
$390,000
Nashville Home price
$443,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Nashville.
Equivalent salary in Nashville
$88,287
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Nashville.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Nashville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 133 | +15.0 (+12.7%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | +3.0 (+3.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | -3.0 (-2.9%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 97 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 101 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $5,040
Houston / Nashville
Couple
$7,870 / $8,370
Houston / Nashville
Family
$11,090 / $11,790
Houston / Nashville
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.