CostIndexUSA

Nashville, TN vs Riverside, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Nashville is moderately cheaper than Riverside — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Nashville, you would need $88,400 in Riverside. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+23.6%
Nashville
104.6
Riverside
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.4%
Nashville
96.2
Riverside
101.4
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Nashville
99.9
Riverside
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+6.4%
Nashville
90.4
Riverside
96.2
Utilities+106.4%
Nashville
72
Riverside
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Riverside, CA
$88,400
$8,400 more needed in Riverside

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 96.3) = salary × 1.1049. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Nashville, TN

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

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Riverside has 23.6% higher housing costs compared to Nashville.

Income & Job Market

Nashville, TN

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

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Nashville, TN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.