City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Nashville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charlotte, NC are 1.0% higher than in Nashville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Nashville, TN would need about $101,000 in Charlotte, NC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC and $1,578 in Nashville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Charlotte, NC than in Nashville, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Charlotte, NC to Nashville, TN ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.2% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Nashville, TN: price level 96.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 96.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,962 in Nashville | $101,048 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,578/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $50,390 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 104.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 96.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Nashville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
72 Strong offer
Nashville, TN → Charlotte, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Nashville, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Nashville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Real change, Charlotte → Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Nashville pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $61,460 | $62,104 (+5.8%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $126,610 | $127,937 (−5.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $78,080 | $78,899 (−15.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $84,040 | $84,921 (−6.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.