The citywide average for a one-bedroom apartment in Nashville is approximately $1,676-$1,779 per month as of late 2025, depending on the data source. The spread exists because different indices weight neighborhoods differently. Both figures are accurate reflections of different slices of the market.
What matters more than the average is where you are looking, because Nashville’s rental geography is not uniform.
By Neighborhood (2025)
Most expensive:
- Downtown: $2,283
- Midtown: $2,287
- Wedgewood-Houston: $2,311
- Hillsboro Village: $1,989
Mid-range:
- East Nashville: roughly $1,700-$2,000 depending on street and building age
- The Gulch: $1,900-$2,200 (high-rises push the average up)
- 12 South: $1,700-$1,900
- Germantown: $1,700-$1,900
Below average:
- Donelson: $1,493
- Bellevue: $1,696
- Madison: $1,400-$1,600
- Antioch: $1,300-$1,500
- North Nashville: varies significantly by block
What You Get For It
A one-bedroom apartment at $1,700-$1,900 in East Nashville or Germantown typically means: 650-850 square feet, in-unit or shared laundry, street or lot parking, and either a renovated older unit or a newer construction building. At $2,200+ downtown or in The Gulch, you are generally in a high-rise with gym and rooftop amenities, a parking garage, and potentially a concierge.
For $1,400-$1,500, you are looking at Donelson, Bellevue, or Antioch, which require a car and add commute time but deliver more square footage.
Five-Year Trajectory
Nashville rents increased significantly from 2020-2023. The average one-bedroom that cost roughly $1,200-1,300 in 2019 reached $1,700+ by 2022 and has held or risen modestly since. The 2023-2025 period saw some stabilization as new apartment supply came online, but rents have not reverted. People who locked in long-term leases or bought before 2021 are sitting on significantly better cost structures than current renters entering the market fresh.
Two-Bedroom Average
Two-bedroom apartments average approximately $2,100-$2,400 in the core urban neighborhoods, with suburban options running $1,600-$1,900. The cost-per-bedroom tends to be more favorable on two-bedrooms, which is why roommate arrangements are extremely common in the $1,700-$2,000 household income bracket.
What Moves the Number
Within any given neighborhood, the variables that significantly affect rent are:
- Building age: New construction commands $200-400 more than comparable renovated older units
- Parking: Included garage parking adds $100-200 to effective rent versus hunting for street parking
- Laundry: In-unit washer/dryer vs. shared laundry matters in older stock
- Floor: Higher floors in Gulch high-rises with city views can add significant premium
- Lease length: 12-month vs. month-to-month typically varies by $100-200
The Roommate Calculation
Living alone on a Nashville one-bedroom requires a gross income of roughly $5,600-$7,000 per month ($67,000-$84,000 annually) to keep housing under 30% of income, which is the conventional threshold. This is achievable in Nashville’s healthcare, tech, and finance sectors and challenging in music, hospitality, and early-career roles.
The result is that roommate arrangements remain common even among working adults in their late 20s and 30s, particularly for people who want to live in East Nashville or Germantown rather than the more affordable suburbs.
Sources:
- Colonial Van Lines – Living in Nashville (January 2025): colonialvanlines.com
- Centex – Cost of Living in Nashville TN (October 2025 data): centex.com
- Apartments.com Cost of Living Nashville (updated October 2025): apartments.com
- The Agency Nashville – Should You Move to Nashville in 2025: theagency-nashville.com