Median rent is 10% lower in Nashville-Davidson ($1,486/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Nashville-Davidson, where the median home runs $383,100 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Austin ($91,461 vs $75,197 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Nashville-Davidson, TN
How much would you need to earn in Nashville-Davidson, TN to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Nashville-Davidson at $1,486/mo compared to $1,655/mo in Austin (10% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $512,700 versus $383,100 in Nashville-Davidson — 25% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Both Texas and Tennessee have no state income tax — a notable advantage for workers in both cities. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 7.00% in Tennessee; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Nashville-Davidson
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 7.00%
Both cities have similar air quality: Austin averages 47.0 AQI (Good) and Nashville-Davidson averages 48.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,461/yr).
Is Austin cheaper than Nashville-Davidson?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Nashville-Davidson?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,486/mo in Nashville-Davidson, TN. Nashville-Davidson, TN has the lower rent by about 10%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Nashville-Davidson?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $75,197 in Nashville-Davidson, TN. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Austin, TX has better air quality on average: 47.0 AQI versus 48.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Nashville-Davidson?
Both Texas and Tennessee have no state income tax.
What salary do I need in Nashville-Davidson to match my Austin income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology