CostIndexUSA

Milwaukee, WI vs Nashville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Milwaukee
96.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Milwaukee, you would need $79,500 in Nashville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.7%
Milwaukee
97.1
Nashville
104.6
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Milwaukee
93.8
Nashville
96.2
🚗 Transportation4.3%
Milwaukee
104.4
Nashville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare4.2%
Milwaukee
94.4
Nashville
90.4
Utilities21.4%
Milwaukee
91.6
Nashville
72

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Nashville, TN
$79,500
$500 less needed in Nashville

Formula: salary × (96.3 ÷ 96.9) = salary × 0.9938. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Milwaukee, WI

Median Home Price
$363,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.9×

Nashville, TN

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

Nashville has 7.7% higher housing costs compared to Milwaukee.

Income & Job Market

Milwaukee, WI

Median Household Income
$77,000
Per Capita Income
$43,900
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
577,222
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationRetail

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).

Milwaukee, WI
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.