Performance
Score Breakdown
Nashville
Anchorage
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Anchorage is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
2% higher compared to Nashville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Nashville's average rent is
39% higher than Anchorage's.
| Metric | Nashville | Anchorage | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,200 | $1,583 | +39% |
| Groceries | $300 | $623 | -52% |
| Utilities | $200 | $409 | -51% |
| Transport | $400 | $350 | +14% |
| Healthcare | $135 | $200 | -33% |
| Monthly Total | $3,235 | $3,165 | +2% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 125 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Nashville offers 25% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Nashville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Nashville is estimated at
$76,000 vs $125,309 in Anchorage.
| Metric | Nashville | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $61,814 |
| Salary Needed | $76,000 | $125,309 |
| Purchasing Power | 78,571 idx | 49,451 idx |
| Household Income | $77,371 | $103,284 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Nashville | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Anchorage has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Nashville.
Anchorage scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Anchorage leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Nashville | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 13.0/10 | 52.0/10 |
| Walkability | 29.0/10 | 31.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 31.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Nashville is the larger city
— approximately 2.5x the population of Anchorage.
From a growth perspective, Nashville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Nashville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Nashville | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 704,963 | 286,278 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.76% | % |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.70% | 4.10% |
| GDP | $204.9B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Nashville
Advantages
Nashville boasts a strong job market with a low unemployment rate of 2.7% as of May 2026, well below the national average.
The city's economy is highly diversified, with significant growth in healthcare, technology, and entertainment sectors.
Nashville is recognized as a fast-growing startup scene globally, with a strong entrepreneurial climate and a growth score of 68.2.
The city experiences significant population growth, with a projected annual rate of 0.76% for 2026, indicating continued dynamism.
Tourism is a major economic driver, generating substantial revenue and supporting numerous jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry [cite: 10, 38 in previous search].
Drawbacks
Nashville experiences significant traffic congestion, ranking as the 11th worst in the U.S. in 2024, leading to an average of 63 hours lost in traffic annually per driver.
Housing affordability remains a concern, with the average rent at $2,200 per month and median home prices around $475,000, which can be challenging for residents.
The city has low walkability and transit scores (29 and 13 respectively), indicating a high dependency on cars for daily commuting.
Nashville's overall crime rate is higher than the national average, although violent crime is often concentrated in specific areas.
While the city is a healthcare hub, specific quality rankings for healthcare were not readily available, and some healthcare hiring has cooled in the metro area [cite: 7 in previous search].
Anchorage
Advantages
No state income tax allows residents to keep a larger portion of their earnings.
Exceptional access to stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreational activities.
Strong job market in key sectors like healthcare, oil & gas, and transportation.
Friendly community and welcoming atmosphere with a small-town feel.
Shorter average commute time compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living is significantly higher than the national average.
Higher property crime rate compared to the national average.
Limited public transportation options lead to high car dependency.
Challenging winter weather conditions with short daylight hours.
Elevated healthcare costs compared to the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Nashville
#21Tennessee, USA
73.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,200
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
29.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.76%
Unemployment
2.70%
Livability
70
Business
78
Anchorage
#53Alaska, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,583
Avg Salary
$61,814
Cost Index
125
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
52.0/10
Walkability
31.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
72
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Nashville and Anchorage.
Open Cost Calculator