Akron vs Nashville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Akron
Nashville
💡 The Verdict
Akron is 21% cheaper than Nashville overall. A $75,000 salary in Akron is equivalent to $94,444 in Nashville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Akron (left) vs Nashville (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Akron versus Nashville. Differences shown from Akron perspective.
| Item | Akron | Nashville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $790/mo | $1,130/mo | $-340.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,180/mo | $1,600/mo | $-420.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,550/mo | $2,090/mo | $-540.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.26 | $2.53 | $-0.27 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.19 | $3.55 | $-0.36 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.05 | $3.15 | $-1.10 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.79 | $5.27 | $-0.48 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.05 | $3.41 | $-0.36 |
| Restaurant Meal | $13.96 | $16.87 | $-2.91 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Akron has the same purchasing power as $94,444 in Nashville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Nashville equals $59,559 in Akron.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $2626 difference is driven by Ohio having a higher state income tax rate. Ohio details → · Tennessee details →
Reading These Numbers: Akron (81) vs Nashville (102)
Akron at 81 is 19% below the US average, while Nashville at 102 is 2% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Akron, the composite index of 81 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 84, followed by groceries (79), utilities (73), transportation (80), and healthcare (81). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,180/mo in Akron and $1,600/mo in Nashville, the annual rent difference is approximately $5,040.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $25,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $116,000.0 difference in median home prices between Akron and Nashville translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Akron vs Nashville
Choosing between Akron and Nashville involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Akron versus Nashville depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.