Seattle and Nashville are both vibrant, growing cities with a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. However, when it comes to cost of living, these two cities tell quite different stories. Seattle is notorious for its high cost of living, driven by a booming tech sector and rapid population growth. Nashville, in contrast, often tops lists of affordable places to live thanks to lower housing costs and a relatively low cost of living compared to other major U.S. metros.
So how do Seattle and Nashville actually compare when you look at the data on essential expenses like housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and more? Is the Emerald City really that much more expensive than the Music City? Let’s take a data-driven look at prices in Seattle versus Nashville.
Housing Costs
Housing is typically the biggest monthly expense for households, so it’s a major factor in cost of living differences between cities. According to 2021 estimates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), here’s how Seattle and Nashville home prices and rents compare:
| City | Median Home Price | Median Rent for 2 Bedroom Apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $746,800 | $1,903 |
| Nashville | $352,400 | $1,419 |
Both buying and renting a home are significantly more expensive in Seattle versus Nashville. Median home prices in Seattle are over double what they are in Nashville. Rental prices show a similar gap. The median rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in Seattle is $484 per month higher than in Nashville.
Key Takeaways
- Median home price in Seattle is $746,800 compared to $352,400 in Nashville.
- Median rent for 2 bedroom apartment is $1,903 in Seattle versus $1,419 in Nashville.
- Housing costs are roughly 50% higher in Seattle than Nashville.
Groceries
After housing, food is typically one of the largest necessities in people’s budgets. Having access to affordable groceries and other food items can make a big difference in cost of living. According to Numbeo crowd-sourced data for 2022 grocery prices, here is how Seattle and Nashville compare:
| City | Loaf of Bread | Dozen Eggs | Milk (1 gallon) | Potatoes (1 lb) | Bananas (1 lb) | Chicken Breasts (1 lb) | Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $2.91 | $3.18 | $3.73 | $0.97 | $0.79 | $4.02 | $1.11 |
| Nashville | $2.06 | $2.26 | $2.89 | $0.77 | $0.60 | $3.04 | $1.09 |
Grocery costs are moderately higher in Seattle than in Nashville across the board. A loaf of bread costs 41% more in Seattle, while eggs are 41% more expensive. Even basics like milk, potatoes and chicken have a 25-32% premium in Seattle. Only bottled water is at price parity in the two cities.
Key Takeaways
- Groceries in Seattle cost 25-41% more across categories like bread, eggs, milk, produce and chicken.
- Higher grocery costs add to the growing cost of living gap between these cities.
- Even essentials like bread and eggs cost $1+ more per item in Seattle.
Transportation
Getting around a city is a significant expense, whether you use public transit or own a car. Gas prices, parking, and monthly transit passes all factor into transportation costs. Here is a snapshot of key transportation costs in Seattle versus Nashville:
| City | Monthly Public Transit Pass | Taxi Start Charge | Gasoline (1 gallon) | Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $99 | $2.60 | $4.44 | $23,567.53 | $23,814.81 |
| Nashville | $62 | $2.25 | $3.27 | $23,839.62 | $25,010.20 |
Transit and taxis are cheaper in Nashville, but Seattle’s higher gas prices somewhat offset the savings. Vehicle prices are very similar in both cities for popular sedans from Toyota and Volkswagen. Overall transportation costs are moderately lower in Nashville.
Key Takeaways
- Public transit monthly passes are 37% cheaper in Nashville.
- Gasoline prices are 26% higher in Seattle.
- New vehicle prices are nearly identical in both cities.
- Nashville transportation costs are moderately lower overall.
Utilities
Heating, cooling, electricity, and other utilities are essential services that also impact cost of living. Here are average 2022 utility prices in Seattle and Nashville:
| City | Basic Utilities for 85m2 Apartment | 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff | Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $210.18 | $0.10 | $55.00 |
| Nashville | $190.83 | $0.10 | $55.00 |
Utility costs are moderately higher in Seattle, driven mainly by higher electricity, heating and cooling expenses. High-speed internet costs the same in both cities, while mobile phone rates are identical.
Key Takeaways
- Apartment utilities cost 10% more in Seattle.
- Internet and mobile phone rates are the same.
- Overall utility expenses are moderately higher in Seattle.
Healthcare
Access to quality, affordable healthcare is a top concern in any city. Healthcare costs include insurance premiums as well as out-of-pocket costs like appointments, procedures, dental visits, and prescriptions. Let’s see how healthcare costs in Seattle and Nashville compare:
| City | Doctor Visit (15 mins) | Prescription Eyeglasses | Dental Checkup | Prescription Medicine (1 month supply) | Medical Care Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $150 | $126 | $118 | $105 | 98.2 |
| Nashville | $108 | $204 | $74 | $93 | 86.3 |
Healthcare costs are a mixed bag. Doctor visits and dental care are more expensive in Seattle. Nashville edges out Seattle on the cost of prescription medicine and healthcare prices overall as measured by the medical care index. Eyeglasses are cheaper in Seattle.
Key Takeaways
- Doctor visits are 28% more expensive in Seattle.
- Dental checkups cost 37% more in Seattle.
- Nashville healthcare prices are 14% lower overall.
- No clear winner on all healthcare costs.
Taxes
The taxes residents pay can significantly impact cost of living. Seattle and Tennessee don’t have a state income tax, but they do have different sales tax rates. Property taxes are also assessed differently in each city. Here’s how the tax burden compares:
| City | Sales Tax Rate | Property Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 10.1% | 0.99% |
| Nashville | 9.25% | 0.77% |
Seattle has a higher sales tax rate at 10.1% compared to 9.25% in Nashville. The property tax rate is also higher in Seattle at 0.99% versus 0.77% in Nashville.
Key Takeaways
- Seattle sales tax rate is 0.85% higher.
- Seattle property tax rate is 0.22% higher.
- Residents pay higher taxes overall in Seattle.
Cost of Living Index
Now that we’ve looked at costs for specific expense categories, let’s examine the overall cost of living difference between the two cities using the cost of living index (COLI) from Numbeo. This index measures prices for groceries, housing, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and more.
The overall cost of living index for Seattle is 147.28 compared to 96.76 for Nashville. Seattle ranks as the 7th most expensive city in the U.S. while Nashville ranks 82nd for cost of living. Based on the index, Seattle’s cost of living is 52% higher than Nashville’s.
Key Takeaway
- Seattle’s overall cost of living is 52% higher than Nashville based on the cost of living index.
Conclusion
After comparing costs for housing, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare and taxes, Seattle consistently ranks as a significantly more expensive city to live in than Nashville across the board. Housing costs make up the biggest gap, with median home prices and rents roughly 50% higher in Seattle. Costs for day-to-day items like groceries are also 25-40% more expensive in Seattle.
Transportation and utilities cost moderately more in Seattle, while taxes are also higher. Healthcare costs are mixed, with some expenses like doctor visits higher in Seattle and others like prescriptions lower. However, the overall cost of living index confirms Seattle’s affordability challenge compared to Nashville, rating Seattle’s prices 52% higher overall.
While both cities offer great quality of life, job opportunities, amenities and activities, the data confirms that Seattle does come with a steep cost of living price tag. Nashville emerges as a more affordable alternative for residents looking to stretch their budget further without sacrificing city living.