City comparison
Nashville vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Nashville (111.2) and Chicago (113.6).
Nashville Index
111.2
Chicago Index
113.6
Nashville Rent
$2,450
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Nashville Home price
$443,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Nashville to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$90,921
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Nashville and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Nashville | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 133 | 128 | -5.0 (-3.8%) |
| Groceries | 100 | 106 | +6.0 (+6.0%) |
| Transportation | 101 | 112 | +11.0 (+10.9%) |
| Healthcare | 97 | 104 | +7.0 (+7.2%) |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 101 | 105 | +4.0 (+4.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,040 / $5,130
Nashville / Chicago
Couple
$8,370 / $8,520
Nashville / Chicago
Family
$11,790 / $12,000
Nashville / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Nashville city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Nashville.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
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.