Once the South's best-kept secret, the word is now out that Nashville is a fun and affordable place to live. You don't even have to like country music to call Music City home (although it's strongly encouraged).
Nashville's average citywide rent for a one-bedroom apartment in 2020 was $1,746. This isn't all that much more than the national average of $1,617 (up from $1,605 the year before). It's getting more expensive to live in this popular town, as the rate increased 2.41 percent from 2019 to 2020.
Ideally, you should budget no more than 30 percent of your pre-tax income on housing expenses. This means that you need to make a salary of at least $69,840 to responsibly afford the average one-bedroom apartment in Nashville ($1,746 per month). Adjust the salary requirements if the one you've got your eye on is more or less expensive.
This is easy to do using our handy-dandy rent calculator.
The cost of living isn't only about rent. It also incorporates everything from groceries and transportation to other goods and services. Since you know you're going to need necessities like gas and healthcare and avocado toast it's smart to know what to expect. This data should give you a good idea of how much it costs to live in Nashville compared with the national average.
Every city has its hotspots, which automatically means that they cost more to rent, and Nashville is no exception. The trendiest places to live in the Music City are definitely downtown near all the action.
The neighborhoods immediately west of the city are also pretty pricey. The farther you get from the city, the more the average Nashville rent trends downward. This is particularly true on the south side.
The most expensive rentals in Nashville tend to fall into one of two categories — either they're right in the heart of the city, or are in a super swank end of town. The Gulch and Downtown are the two most happening (and thus priciest) spots since they're so close to nightlife and surprisingly chic shopping and dining.
Green Hills – Midtown and Green Hills are also near the top of the list because even though they're outside the city the general Green Hills area is very affluent. However, rental rates in Green Hills Midtown decreased 11.9 percent in 2020 compared with the year before. Green Hills also declined nearly 23 percent over the same period. So, maybe that's a sign of changing times and rental location preferences?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Price | YoY Rent Price Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Gulch | $2,491 | 33.99% |
| 2 | Downtown | $2,289 | 19.08% |
| 3 | Four Corners | $2,249 | 72.10% |
| 4 | West End | $2,135 | 0.73% |
| 5 | West End Park | $2,064 | -1.48% |
| 6 | Music Row | $2,035 | 3.97% |
| 7 | Academy Square | $2,009 | -8.17% |
| 8 | Green Hills - Midtown | $1,869 | -11.90% |
| 9 | Edgefield | $1,831 | 19.14% |
| 10 | Green Hills | $1,760 | -22.82% |
Some people opt to live a little outside of the city in less expensive Nashville neighborhoods. Pretty much all the bottom 10 are around the perimeter. Of those, Dickerson Road just north of Nashville is the least expensive neighborhood in which to rent. But there could be movement on the list before next year comes around. West Nashville rental rates are up nearly 12 percent since 2019, and the northeast neighborhood of Inglewood 19.25 percent higher over the same period.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Price | YoY Rent Price Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dickerson Road | $881 | 4.33% |
| 2 | McMurray | $897 | -8.40% |
| 3 | Heron Walk | $931 | 4.48% |
| 4 | Nashboro Village | $964 | N/A |
| 5 | West Meade | $973 | -1.10% |
| 6 | Southeast Nashville | $1,041 | 1.45% |
| 7 | South Nashville | $1,062 | 4.38% |
| 8 | Glencliff | $1,064 | 2.87% |
| 9 | Inglewood | $1,072 | 19.25% |
| 10 | West Nashville | $1,113 | 11.89% |
Don't waste time shopping around in neighborhoods you can't afford. Check out this helpful map, which lists average rent prices by neighborhood.
| Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Price | YoY Rent Price Change |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Ave South | $1,630 | N/A |
| Academy Square | $2,009 | -8.17% |
| Brentwood Downs | $1,455 | N/A |
| Buena Vista | $1,358 | 5.80% |
| Capitol Hill | $1,329 | -4.29% |
| Dickerson Road | $881 | 4.33% |
| Donelson - Hermitage - Old Hickory | $1,226 | 12.12% |
| Downtown | $2,289 | 19.08% |
| East Nashville | $1,347 | 20.99% |
| Eastwood | $1,277 | 3.36% |
| Edgefield | $1,831 | 19.14% |
| Four Corners | $2,249 | 72.10% |
| Germantown | $1,630 | -10.78% |
| Glencliff | $1,064 | 2.87% |
| Green Hills - Midtown | $1,869 | -11.90% |
| Green Hills | $1,760 | -22.82% |
| Heron Walk | $931 | 4.48% |
| Hillsboro West End | $1,716 | -1.62% |
| Inglewood | $1,072 | 19.25% |
| Lincoya Bay | $1,181 | -11.54% |
| McMurray | $897 | -8.40% |
| Midtown | $1,566 | -25.09% |
| Music Row | $2,035 | 3.97% |
| Nashboro Village | $964 | N/A |
| North Nashville | $1,464 | -16.26% |
| South Nashville | $1,062 | 4.38% |
| Southeast Nashville | $1,041 | 1.45% |
| Talbot's Corner | $1,115 | 7.83% |
| The Gulch | $2,491 | 33.99% |
| The Woodlands | $1,532 | 11.78% |
| Turtle Creek | $1,210 | 5.82% |
| Vanderbilt | $1,713 | -24.04% |
| West End Park | $2,064 | -1.48% |
| West End | $2,135 | 0.73% |
| West Meade | $973 | -1.10% |
| West Nashville | $1,113 | 11.89% |
| Whitebridge | $1,165 | 10.93% |
| Whites Bend | $1,330 | N/A |
| Woodland-in-Waverly | $1,591 | -1.07% |
| Woodlawn | $1,605 | 0.64% |
By now, you have a pretty solid idea of which Nashville neighborhoods you can realistically afford to look at. Now it's time to take the next step and visit Apartment Guide's Nashville-specific search page to find that perfect country-meets-city rental.
A freelance writer based out of the Atlanta area, Alia has penned articles during her decade+ career for such sites as HowStuffWorks, TLC, Animal Planet, Zillow and many more. Her favorite things to write about include fitness, nutrition, travel, healthcare and general lifestyle topics. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Alia’s an avid Dawg, but she also loves reading, sewing, eating all things chocolate and playing sports with her husband, three boys and beloved border collie, Flash.