City comparison
Nashville vs Washington Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Nashville (111.2) and Washington (142.9).
Nashville Index
111.2
Washington Index
142.9
Nashville Rent
$2,450
Washington Rent
$3,800
Nashville Home price
$443,000
Washington Home price
$705,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Nashville to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Washington.
Equivalent salary in Washington
$114,371
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Nashville and Washington.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Nashville | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 133 | 201 | +68.0 (+51.1%) |
| Groceries | 100 | 117 | +17.0 (+17.0%) |
| Transportation | 101 | 109 | +8.0 (+7.9%) |
| Healthcare | 97 | 111 | +14.0 (+14.4%) |
| Utilities | 99 | 104 | +5.0 (+5.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 101 | 118 | +17.0 (+16.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,040 / $6,720
Nashville / Washington
Couple
$8,370 / $11,160
Nashville / Washington
Family
$11,790 / $15,720
Nashville / Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Nashville city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Nashville.
View Washington city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Washington.
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.