Performance
Score Breakdown
Nashville
Juneau
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Juneau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
5% higher compared to Nashville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Nashville's average rent is
18% higher than Juneau's.
| Metric | Nashville | Juneau | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,200 | $1,860 | +18% |
| Groceries | $300 | $400 | -25% |
| Utilities | $200 | $432 | -54% |
| Transport | $400 | $120 | +233% |
| Healthcare | $135 | $265 | -49% |
| Monthly Total | $3,235 | $3,077 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 133 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Nashville offers 18% 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 $74,400 in Juneau.
| Metric | Nashville | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $76,000 | $74,400 |
| Purchasing Power | 78,571 idx | 48,872 idx |
| Household Income | $77,371 | $101,661 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Nashville | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 81.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Juneau has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to Nashville.
Juneau 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 | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 15 min |
| Transit Score | 13.0/10 | 38.0/10 |
| Walkability | 29.0/10 | 21.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Nashville is the larger city
— approximately 22.4x the population of Juneau.
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 | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 704,963 | 31,454 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.76% | % |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.0 |
| Unemployment | 2.70% | 3.50% |
| 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].
Juneau
Advantages
Juneau boasts a median household income of $101,661 (2020-2024), significantly higher than the national average.
The city offers unparalleled access to outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing, due to its location within the Tongass National Forest.
Juneau's unemployment rate was 3.5% in April 2026, indicating a healthy job market.
The tourism industry is a major economic driver, with record cruise passenger numbers in 2025.
Construction, healthcare, and transportation sectors are projected to see job growth in 2026.
Drawbacks
The overall cost of living in Juneau is approximately 32.6% higher than the national average.
Housing costs are particularly high, being about 41.8% more expensive than the national average.
Juneau's population is currently declining at an annual rate of -0.49%.
Utilities are significantly more expensive, approximately 41.1% above national levels.
Healthcare costs, especially for long-term care, are very high, with assisted living at around $10,198 per month.
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
Juneau
#13Alaska, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,860
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
133
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
38.0/10
Walkability
21.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
80
Business
70
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Nashville and Juneau.
Open Cost Calculator