CostIndexUSA

Mobile, AL vs Nashville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
TN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Mobile is moderately cheaper than Nashville — 9.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $87,400 in Nashville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+74.0%
Mobile
60.1
Nashville
104.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Mobile
96.4
Nashville
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Mobile
101.5
Nashville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Mobile
91.9
Nashville
90.4
Utilities14.5%
Mobile
84.2
Nashville
72

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Nashville, TN
$87,400
$7,400 more needed in Nashville

Formula: salary × (96.3 ÷ 88.1) = salary × 1.0931. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Nashville, TN

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

Nashville has 74.0% higher housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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).

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.