CostIndexUSA

Nashville, TN vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Nashville is moderately cheaper than Philadelphia — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Nashville, you would need $85,200 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.1%
Nashville
104.6
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Nashville
96.2
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+8.3%
Nashville
99.9
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+8.3%
Nashville
90.4
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+58.9%
Nashville
72
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$85,200
$5,200 more needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 96.3) = salary × 1.0654. 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×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Philadelphia has 8.1% 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

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

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)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.