Performance
Score Breakdown
Nashville
Fairbanks
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Fairbanks is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
10% higher compared to Nashville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Nashville's average rent is
50% higher than Fairbanks's.
| Metric | Nashville | Fairbanks | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,200 | $1,464 | +50% |
| Groceries | $300 | $550 | -45% |
| Utilities | $200 | $617 | -68% |
| Transport | $400 | $120 | +233% |
| Healthcare | $135 | $187 | -28% |
| Monthly Total | $3,235 | $2,938 | +10% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 123 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Nashville offers 35% 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 $87,000 in Fairbanks.
| Metric | Nashville | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $56,940 |
| Salary Needed | $76,000 | $87,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 78,571 idx | 46,293 idx |
| Household Income | $77,371 | $73,534 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Nashville | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Fairbanks has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Nashville.
Nashville scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Nashville leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Nashville | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 13.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 29.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Nashville is the larger city
— approximately 22.5x the population of Fairbanks.
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 | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 704,963 | 31,282 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.76% | % |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 29.0 |
| Unemployment | 2.70% | 4.80% |
| 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].
Fairbanks
Advantages
Average rent in Fairbanks is 20% lower than the national average, making it more affordable for renters.
The housing market is a strong seller's market, with homes selling for 102.11% of the asking price in March 2026.
Job growth is forecasted at 0.8% for 2026, with significant growth in healthcare and transportation sectors.
Fairbanks offers unparalleled access to outdoor activities and a strong sense of community.
The median age of 29 years indicates a relatively young and dynamic population.
Drawbacks
The overall cost of living in Fairbanks is 23% higher than the national average.
Utility prices are significantly higher, approximately 112% above the national average.
Grocery prices are 23% higher than the national average.
The city's population is projected to decline by -0.59% annually.
Government jobs are forecasted to decline, impacting a significant employment sector.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Nashville
#20Tennessee, 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
Fairbanks
#64Alaska, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,464
Avg Salary
$56,940
Cost Index
123
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
72
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Nashville and Fairbanks.
Open Cost Calculator