CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Nashville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Nashville is slightly cheaper than Lancaster — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $78,400 in Nashville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.5%
Lancaster
93.8
Nashville
104.6
🛒 Groceries4.5%
Lancaster
100.7
Nashville
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Lancaster
102.6
Nashville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare2.6%
Lancaster
92.8
Nashville
90.4
Utilities32.9%
Lancaster
107.3
Nashville
72

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Nashville, TN
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Nashville

Formula: salary × (96.3 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 0.9797. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Nashville, TN

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

Nashville has 11.5% higher housing costs compared to Lancaster.

Income & Job Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

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).

Lancaster, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.