Moving from Chicago to Nashville
A typical worker keeps $2,186 more a year in Nashville than in Chicago, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Chicago salary of $54,720, you'd need about $47,700 in Nashville.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $2,186 more a year in Nashville than in Chicago.
- Typical salary
- $54,720
- Federal income tax
- −$4,386
- Payroll taxes
- −$4,186
- State income tax
- −$2,564
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$22,272
- Everyday costs
- −$18,234
a year, or $257 a month
- Typical salary
- $50,390
- Federal income tax
- −$3,867
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,855
- State income tax
- $0
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$20,928
- Everyday costs
- −$16,476
a year, or $439 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Chicago | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)7% cheaper | 103.6 | 96.3 |
| Rent, studio$75 less | $1,750 | $1,675 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$112 less | $1,856 | $1,744 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$197 less | $2,097 | $1,900 |
| Food$54 less | $529 | $475 |
| Transportation$43 less | $419 | $376 |
| Healthcare$19 less | $354 | $335 |
| Utilities$31 less | $218 | $187 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$259 less | $3,376 | $3,117 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Chicago | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$2,186 more | $54,720 | $50,390 |
| Registered nurse$3,642 less | $100,490 | $84,040 |
| Teacher$9,337 less | $85,354 | $62,448 |
| Electrician$19,736 less | $102,350 | $63,340 |
| Accountant$4,023 more | $82,360 | $78,080 |
| Software engineer$4,298 more | $134,380 | $126,610 |
| Truck driver$4,699 more | $62,300 | $60,630 |
| Licensed practical nurse$4,982 less | $78,070 | $61,940 |
| Nursing assistant$689 less | $46,940 | $39,510 |
| Medical assistant$3,168 more | $47,270 | $44,620 |
| Project manager$5,428 less | $105,320 | $85,990 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $54,720 (a typical Chicago wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Chicago | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $4,386 | $4,386 |
| Payroll taxesNo change | $4,186 | $4,186 |
| State income tax$2,564 less | $2,564 | $0 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$2,564 less | $11,136 | $8,572 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Chicago | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$523 less | $80,613 | $80,090 |
| Median home value$97,600 more | $341,200 | $438,800 |
| Unemployment rate4.1 pts lower | 7.3% | 3.2% |
| Working from home0.4 pts higher | 17.6% | 18% |
Moving to Nashville
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Nashville than Chicago?
Yes: prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the US average, against 4% above the US average in the Chicago area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,744 a month in Nashville and $1,856 in Chicago.
How much more is rent in Chicago?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $112 a month (6.4%) higher in Chicago: $1,744 in Nashville against $1,856 in Chicago.
How much do I need to earn in Nashville to keep the same as in Chicago?
A typical worker in Chicago earns $54,720. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $47,700 in Nashville.
Will I pay more tax in Nashville?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, and Illinois taxes wages. On a typical Chicago salary of $54,720, total income and payroll taxes come to $8,572 in Nashville and $11,136 in Chicago.
Do people keep more money in Nashville or Chicago?
A typical worker keeps $2,186 more a year in Nashville than in Chicago: $5,264 in Nashville against $3,078 in Chicago, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate