Rents are 10% below what Nashville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,820 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Nashville usually run 1.1% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in July, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Nashville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Nashville changed +0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent in Nashville is 25.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 23 ZIP codes in Nashville, 37215 ($2,399/mo), costs 1.8 times the cheapest, 37217 ($1,334/mo).
Ashland City, 19 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,626/mo), about $2,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Nashville. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Nashville, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Nashville, TN has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Nashville, TN paid around $1,493 a month. That figure now sits near $1,820, up 21.9% from the 2021 baseline. Census counts show Nashville, TN adding about 7,484 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. The renter share has risen from 45.9% to 47.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 43.9% to 48% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Nashville, TN reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Nashville
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Nashville on your salary?
At $1,820/mo, how Nashville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Nashville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Nashville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Nashville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Nashville is $1,820/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,718/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,977/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,785/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,498/mo.
At 30% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Nashville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Nashville?
Is rent going up or down in Nashville?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Nashville?
Which Nashville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Nashville rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Nashville?
At $1,820/mo, rent takes ~30% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Nashville.
No discussions yet.