CostIndexUSA

Nashville, TN vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
AZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Nashville is slightly cheaper than Tucson — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Nashville, you would need $80,500 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.2%
Nashville
104.6
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Nashville
96.2
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
Nashville
99.9
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
Nashville
90.4
Tucson
94.8
Utilities+24.3%
Nashville
72
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$80,500
$500 more needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 96.3) = salary × 1.0062. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Nashville has 12.2% lower housing costs compared to Tucson.

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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×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.