City Guide / Nashville

10 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Nashville

By Bri Hand | Jun 24, 2021
Skyline view of Nashville, TN.

Nashville, Tennessee, is becoming a more and more popular place to move, thanks to its low cost of living, low unemployment rate, and vibrant dining and entertainment scene.  Thinking about moving to Nashville, TN? Here are 10 things you should know about Music City before you relocate:

1. The cost of living is lower than the national average

Cost of living in Nashville

The cost of living in Nashville is much lower than the national average. Renting an apartment will be much cheaper than in other cities like New York City or San Francisco. Ultimately, this low cost of living means you can enjoy everything this city has to offer, such as dining out at top restaurants, enjoying live music or honky-tonks downtown, or getting drinks with friends. 

2. Your money will go further in Nashville when it comes to apartments

Another benefit of moving here is the city’s lower housing costs, which means your monthly rent payment can do a lot more work. If you’re interested in fully furnished luxury apartments in Nashville, you can take advantage of amenities like swimming pools, in-unit laundry, and stainless steel appliances. You can also avoid paying for a gym membership by moving to an apartment with a fitness center included. There are so many fun things to do in Nashville that you’ll appreciate the extra cash in your pockets so you can take full advantage! 

3. The live music scene is vibrant

If living the last year in a pandemic has made you yearn for live entertainment, Nashville is a great spot! The metro area has plenty of live music venues, and while country music is certainly popular, an indie rock scene has also emerged recently that’s popular among residents. We recommend hitting up Broadway and Music Row for the best venues. 

4. Hot chicken is an absolute must

Hot chicken in Nashville

Any local will tell you that Nashville hot chicken is a must-eat. One top restaurant is Prince’s Hot Chicken, which serves a delicious fried chicken in a special hot sauce. Just know that if you’re not the best when it comes to spicy food, you may need a gallon of milk to cool off after! 

5. Prepare for the Southern heat

Nashville’s location in the southern U.S. means that it gets hot, so you’ll need to prepare for warmer temperatures, as well as some humidity in the summer. Welcome to Tennessee! 

6. Make sure to budget for transportation expenses

While WeGo Public Transit does exist, the public transport options aren’t as robust as in other metro areas. As such, make sure to factor in buying a car (or Uber and Lyft costs) when budgeting your monthly income ahead of moving to Nashville. 

7. There’s plenty of coffee

If you can’t get by without your caffeine, don’t worry! Nashvillains have plenty of favorite coffee shops in the area, including popular spots like Barista Parlor and Ugly Mugs.

8. The nightlife is great

Nightlife in NashvilleBeyond the live music scene, there’s plenty of other entertainment and nightlife to enjoy in Music City. From cocktail bars to dive bars and everything in between, you’ll have dozens of options, whether you’re living in downtown Nashville or in another neighborhood. Nashville is home to a thriving brewery scene and also plays host to many romantic restaurants that are perfect for your next date night. 

9. You’ll get a living wage

One other benefit of living here is that you get a living wage. This Tennessee city has a low unemployment rate, solid job market, and low cost of living. Additionally, the median household income in Nashville is about $60,000.

10. It’s is a great place for higher education

Vanderbilt University

While Nashville is a great place to live for young professionals, undergraduate and graduate students can also get a lot from living in Davidson County. Vanderbilt University is one top university in this Tennessee city. 

Thinking about moving to Nashville?

Landing offers furnished apartments in Nashville with flexible lease terms that allow you to stay if you please, or move with ease. Browse Landing’s available apartments in Nashville, or contact us to learn more about what a Landing membership can do for you.

Want to know more about what it’s like living in Nashville? Landing member Jess Goudreault wrote about her experiences living with Landing in Music City in her blog post, “Tales of a Digital Nomad: How I Spent Three Months Living in Nashville.”

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Bri Hand

Bri Hand is Landing's Content Marketing Manager. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts, with her partner and dog, Arlo, but relishes any opportunity she can to travel so she can try new foods, see gorgeous sights, and daydream about living somewhere new after visiting there for less than 24 hours.