Popular cities
Chicago vs Nashville cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Chicago
๐บ๐ธ Nashville
At a glance
- Where Nashville is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (74%โ), Transit (27%โ), Studio rent (month) (26%โ)
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Street food (33%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chicago is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.8). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Chicago 1 vs Nashville 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Nashville | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 17$17 | $ 18$18 | Chicago โ6% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | $ 12$12 | Chicago โ33% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 40$40 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 6$6 | Chicago โ8% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7.5$7.5 | $ 7.5$7.5 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 15$15 | $ 14$14 | Nashville โ7% |
| Bottled water | $ 1.8$1.8 | $ 2$2 | Chicago โ10% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.7$2.7 | $ 2.8$2.8 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 14$14 | Nashville โ18% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | $ 9$9 | Nashville โ10% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.75$2.75 | $ 2$2 | Nashville โ27% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | $ 15$15 | Nashville โ74% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | $ 180$180 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,950$1,950 | $ 1,450$1,450 | Nashville โ26% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Nashville โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 27$27 | Nashville โ23% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 85$85 | $ 85$85 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 60$60 | $ 50$50 | Nashville โ17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 33$33 | $ 32$32 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Nashville?
Nashville is 10% cheaper than Chicago. Daily budget $334 vs $327; a month $6,737 vs $5,558.
Which is easier to travel, Chicago or Nashville?
Chicago is easier: Chicago 1.4/5 vs Nashville 1.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Nashville?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,737 and Nashville about $5,558 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.