CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Nashville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
TN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Fayetteville is slightly cheaper than Nashville — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $83,700 in Nashville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+43.1%
Fayetteville
73.1
Nashville
104.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Nashville
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.1%
Fayetteville
103.1
Nashville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare3.1%
Fayetteville
93.3
Nashville
90.4
Utilities18.0%
Fayetteville
87.8
Nashville
72

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Nashville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Nashville, TN
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Nashville

Formula: salary × (96.3 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0467. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Nashville, TN

Median Home Price
$444,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
104.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Nashville has 43.1% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

Nashville, TN

Median Household Income
$84,700
Per Capita Income
$48,300
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
689,447
Top Industries
HealthcareMusicTourismManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Nashville, TN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.