Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nashville, TN and Baltimore, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Baltimore, MD: $2,499 a month against $2,847 in Nashville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nashville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,847
/mo nomad
Baltimore, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,499
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nashville, TN and in Baltimore, MD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nashville, TN and in Baltimore, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,847 in Nashville, TN versus $2,499 in Baltimore, MD.

  • Nashville, TN $2,847
  • Baltimore, MD $2,499

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,247 in Nashville, TN versus $3,913 in Baltimore, MD.

  • Nashville, TN $4,247
  • Baltimore, MD $3,913

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,647 in Nashville, TN versus $5,327 in Baltimore, MD.

  • Nashville, TN $5,647
  • Baltimore, MD $5,327

Living in Nashville, TN is roughly 14% more expensive than in Baltimore, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nashville, TN 111% above, Baltimore, MD 85% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.45 $18.45
$17.77 $17.77
3.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.1 $84.1
$96.2 $96.2
-12.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$10.82 $10.82
12.85%
Cappuccino
$6.61 $6.61
$5.24 $5.24
26.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.43 $3.43
-16.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.62 $2.62
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 $6.91
$7.03 $7.03
-1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$7.92 $7.92
0.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.15 $1.15
-0.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.93 $3.93
$4.16 $4.16
-5.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.09 $4.09
-3.18%
Eggs
$4.31 $4.31
$4.80 $4.80
-10.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$12.75 $12.75
1.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.24 $14.24
$12.73 $12.73
11.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.32 $18.32
$18.47 $18.47
-0.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.69 $5.69
$5.90 $5.90
-3.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.52 $1.52
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$5.75 $5.75
-26.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 $5.08
$4.84 $4.84
4.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.81 $2.81
-7.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.90 $2.90
4.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.40 $2.40
-5.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.29 $2.29
1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.39 $10.39
$14.13 $14.13
-26.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.51 $15.51
$15.40 $15.40
0.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.59 $2.59
-8.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 $4.66
$3.91 $3.91
19.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.06 $2.06
-1.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.7 $64.7
$78.0 $78.0
-17.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 $5.09
$1.75 $1.75
190.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.38 $1.38
15.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.80 $20.80
$24.39 $24.39
-14.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.03 $1.03
-2.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$36.4K $36.4K
0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$25.5K $25.5K
6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$216 $216
7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.0 $74.0
$65.8 $65.8
12.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$89.3 $89.3
-16.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 $55.2
$50.2 $50.2
9.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.44 $14.44
$48.01 $48.01
-69.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.87 $14.87
$15.23 $15.23
-2.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,475 $1,475
$1,980 $1,980
-25.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K $30.9K
$35.6K $35.6K
-13.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 $55.5
$53.1 $53.1
4.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.06 $43.06
$63.4 $63.4
-32.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 $91.7
$91.9 $91.9
-0.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$112 $112
23.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,999 $1,999
$1,751 $1,751
14.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$1,060 $1,060
30.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,438 $4,438
$2,362 $2,362
87.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,422 $2,422
$2,064 $2,064
17.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,035 $8,035
$2,512 $2,512
219.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,673 $2,673
$2,353 $2,353
13.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nashville, TN
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,645 $4,645
$4,460 $4,460
4.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.72
-2.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nashville, TN: October 11, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nashville, TN
$1.4K
Baltimore, MD
$1.1K 23.2% $320
Groceries & Markets
Nashville, TN
$432
Baltimore, MD
$435 0.7% $2.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nashville, TN
$381
Baltimore, MD
$371 2.4% $9.1
Eating Out
Nashville, TN
$335
Baltimore, MD
$313 6.8% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Nashville, TN
$148
Baltimore, MD
$144 2.6% $3.8
Getting Around
Nashville, TN
$86
Baltimore, MD
$95 10.5% $9
Sport & Entertainment
Nashville, TN
$85
Baltimore, MD
$81 5% $4.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,999 in Nashville, TN and $1,751 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nashville, TN pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Nashville, TN vs $96.0 in Baltimore, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $435 per month, with Nashville, TN cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Nashville, TN
🇺🇸 Baltimore, MD
🕒 Local time
07:29 7:29 AM
08:29 8:29 AM
1 h ahead of Nashville, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
689,447
585,708
Exchange rates and currency converter

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United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nashville, TN Baltimore, MD 960 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nashville, TN
  • Baltimore, MD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Nashville, TN vs Baltimore, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nashville, TN or Baltimore, MD?
Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Nashville, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baltimore, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nashville, TN or in Baltimore, MD?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Nashville, TN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nashville, TN compared to Baltimore, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,999 in Nashville, TN versus $1,751 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nashville, TN or in Baltimore, MD?
Shoppers in Nashville, TN pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Nashville, TN and in Baltimore, MD?
Dining out is cheaper in Baltimore, MD – a meal for two runs $96.0 versus $84.0 in Nashville, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Nashville, TN or in Baltimore, MD?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Baltimore, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nashville, TN or Baltimore, MD?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baltimore, MD delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,499 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baltimore, MD hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Nashville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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