City comparison
Durham, NC vs Nashville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Durham, NC are 1.3% higher than in Nashville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Nashville, TN would need about $101,300 in Durham, NC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,507 a month in Durham, NC and $1,578 in Nashville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Durham, NC than in Nashville, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Durham, NC to Nashville, TN ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- Durham, NC: price level 97.6 (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
| Durham, NC | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.6 | 96.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,735 in Nashville | $101,281 in Durham |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/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 | $60,720 | $50,390 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Durham-Chapel Hill, NC and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Durham | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.9 | 104.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 97.6 | 96.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Durham, NC → Nashville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
73 Strong offer
Nashville, TN → Durham, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Durham, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Nashville, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Durham, NC to Nashville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Durham, NC | Nashville, TN | Real change, Durham → Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Durham, NC | Nashville, TN | Nashville pay in Durham dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $51,400 | $61,460 | $62,247 (+21.1%) |
| Software Developers | $135,620 | $126,610 | $128,232 (−5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,090 | $78,080 | $79,080 (−7.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | not published | $84,040 | — |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.