Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Nashville, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.3% of gross income.

Nashville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Nashville median rent
$1,834/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Tennessee)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
27.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Nashville's median rent of $1,834 leaves roughly $179/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 47.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Nashville, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

White House, TN
$1,832/mo (27.3% of income)
Maryville, TN
$1,830/mo (27.3% of income)
Lakeland, TN
$1,830/mo (27.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Nashville

View full rent data for Nashville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Nashville, TN?

Median rent in Nashville is $1,834 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Tennessee earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 27.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Nashville?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Tennessee (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Nashville's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which leaves a $179/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Nashville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Tennessee works roughly 47.4 hours a month to cover Nashville's median rent of $1,834.

Where is rent cheaper than Nashville for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include White House ($1,832/mo), Maryville ($1,830/mo), Lakeland ($1,830/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Tennessee state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Nashville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.