Is Germantown expensive?

February 19, 2026

Yes, in most categories. Germantown is one of Nashville’s most expensive neighborhoods to live in, and the restaurants and coffee shops here operate at prices that reflect both the quality of the food and the cost of running a business in a high-demand historic district.

Housing

The median home price in Germantown is reported at around $757,000, though this figure is skewed by occasional sales of rare historic single-family homes. Most actual transactions are for condos, which sell typically in the $400,000 to $500,000 range. The Werthan Lofts, converted from the historic Werthan textile factory, are among the most coveted addresses and price accordingly. New construction in developments like the Neuhoff Residences commands premium rents and sale prices.

Rental prices for one-bedroom apartments run above the Nashville average. The combination of walkability, historic character, proximity to downtown, and limited housing supply creates the price premium. It is worth noting that the cost of living in Germantown is still lower than comparable neighborhoods in cities like New York, Chicago, or Washington, D.C., but by Nashville’s historical standards the neighborhood has become unaffordable for many of the people who lived there when the revitalization began in the 1970s.

Food and drink

The restaurants are expensive relative to Nashville’s general food scene but not relative to what they are. Dinner at City House, Rolf and Daughters, or Henrietta Red will run $50 to $80 per person with drinks, which is the correct price for that level of cooking. Butchertown Hall is somewhat less expensive. Monell’s, with its all-you-can-eat family-style format, is one of the better values in the neighborhood.

Barista Parlor is famously pricey even by Nashville specialty coffee standards $8 for a cup of coffee is consistently noted in reviews. Steadfast Coffee is somewhat more reasonable. Red Bicycle is the least expensive coffee option with decent food attached.

Bearded Iris Brewing is reasonably priced by craft brewery standards, with happy hour (4pm to 6pm daily, $2 off drafts) making it one of the more affordable drinking options in the neighborhood. Von Elrod’s can add up quickly if you are drinking one-liter steins.

The experience cost

For visitors, the main cost consideration is meals. If you are not eating at the serious restaurants, there is not much to spend money on in Germantown: the Tennessee State Museum is free, Bicentennial Capitol Mall is free, the farmers market is free to walk around. The neighborhood does not have the endless bar cover charges or tourist trap markup of Broadway. But if you are coming for the food, budget accordingly.

The honest take: Germantown is worth what it costs in meals. It is not worth the housing prices unless you specifically need to be walking distance from downtown Nashville and prioritize neighborhood quality highly.

Sources

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