Moving to Nashville: Your Complete Guide

Giving you a small-town feel, but the boom of a big city, it’s Nashville! Welcome to the capital of Tennessee and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Here, Broadway runs all day, and music is the mainstay!

Music City is growing fast and for good reasons. A booming local economy, moderate weather, and trending exurban living options make Nashville a premier hot spot for country migration.

At U-Haul, since the start of 2024, more than 21,000 do-it-yourself movers have already called Nashville their new home. Whether it’s a reliable moving truck, rugged cargo trailer, or portable moving container, with over 80 years of moving expertise, we’ll show you the best way to move to Nashville.

This guide covers expected costs of moving, where to live, and how to make the most of moving to and living in Nashville.

Cost of Living Overview

With such a strong local economy, Nashville’s cost of living has increased over the past five years and is somewhat higher than it used to be. However, the city's cost of living is still a couple of percentage points below the national average, with transportation being the biggest cost-cutting expense. Nashville is also in the country’s top 10 for new home construction, building an average of 21 new units per 1,000 residents.

Housing Costs:

Most affordable housing units or multifamily housing apartment buildings in Nashville are luckily right next to an interstate that runs to Downtown, which makes for easy access to nightlife and sports games. Most one-bedroom apartments in Nashville start at $1,500 and go up to $1,800. Two and three-bedroom units range from $1,600 to $2,200. The average home mortgage payment goes from $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the down payment amount and rates.

Utilities:

What most affects utility costs is the weather; Nashville gets into the mid-nineties during summer, as well as below freezing in the winter. Running the air conditioning is especially crucial in the summer because of the high humidity. Utilities will range from at least $100 to $180 in the summer, depending on square footage, and a winter bill will be around $20-$30 less.

Transportation: Nashville is the third most populous city without a light rail service, meaning a car is a must for this city. Most highways in Nashville were built for a smaller population, so traffic congestion is increasing due to the rising population. However, there are current highway expansions and many more being planned. Gasoline tends to be on the cheaper side in Nashville, so consider a hybrid or a car with great miles per gallon to lessen transportation costs.

Where to Live

Most people who visit Nashville rave about its lively Downtown district and all it has to offer. Unlike other metro downtowns, Nashville is different because of how it can cater to unique lifestyles. Downtown Nashville comes with museums, arenas, parks, convention centers, and libraries. Nashvillians also recommended living nearby where you work, as it makes the daily commute much easier to handle.

Young Professionals: Craving the nightlife and urban walkability? The Gulch is your answer. Only a 12-minute walk to Broadway, a 20-minute walk to Bridgestone Arena, and a 9-minute drive to Centennial Park, this neighborhood is all about convenience. If you’re looking for somewhere a little further from Downtown, East Nashville is where you want to be. Still close, but still far enough away to get some peace and quiet.

Families/Long-term Residents: For more of a suburban vibe, but still close to numerous things to do, is Sylvan Park. With proximity to Centennial Park, a local golf course, and the TriStar Medical Center, this neighborhood is one to write down. Nashville is also full of local mom-and-pop grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

Students: A Nashville nickname is ‘The Athens of the South’ because of the countless colleges and institutions in the city. It’s the reason there is a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon in Centennial Park. Student housing options are available all over Nashville, and with a friendlier rental market and online forums, it’ll be easy to find affordable housing options.

The Nashville Housing Market

Middle Tennessee experienced an explosion of moves at the start of 2020, and while it has slowed down, falling housing prices are giving more power to the buyers and making the Nashville housing market more relaxed. Davidson County saw a 6% decline in listing prices, but a 45% hike in inventory at the same time last year.

Important Local Info: Whenever you’re moving to a new city or state, it is extremely important to be aware of potential environmental changes that may impact you. Nashville does have tornadoes and flooding around the Cumberland River. Make sure to stay aware of local news and where you live. Always have a safety plan set, and some homes in Nashville do come equipped with a storm cellar. Make sure to have tornado and flood insurance while living in Nashville or the surrounding areas.

Great Neighborhoods: Nashville’s popularity has given smaller neighborhoods a much-needed boost in excitement. Germantown is a great neighborhood with local farmers’ markets, Nashville’s yearly Oktoberfest, and the Bicentennial Capitol Mall. Want more great neighborhoods? Check out this article here!

Planning the Move to Nashville

Whether you're moving from the east or west, Nashville is a great place, and if you’ve decided Music City will be your next home, you need a plan! A comprehensive moving plan should outline costs, a realistic schedule, equipment reservations, and a plan for once you’re in Nashville.

Prepping for Packing: Packing is objectively the most time-consuming and potentially stress-inducing part of any move. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Before you start packing a certain room, conduct an audit of that space while also sorting belongings into keep, sell, and donate piles. This will ultimately reduce the number of boxes you’ll need and save you money. The trick? Purchase more moving boxes than you think you need; U-Haul will always buy back unused boxes with a receipt.

Be Realistic: Moving takes a lot of time and effort to get the move done correctly. Plan for extra rest time, reservation time, and time when packing. There's going to be a day when you don’t want to pack, and resting for that afternoon is better for your body and mind. When it comes time to discuss a moving day plan, be realistic about what you can carry or what you’ll need assistance with.

Take Some Time: During a move, if there are stressful moments, make sure to take some time for yourself to decompress. This is one of the most important parts of a move to make sure that if anything unplanned occurs, you have the know-how to deal with it in a responsible and safe way.

Life in Nashville After the Move

One of the best things that you can do when moving to a new city is to look up forums and websites for the best local spots to eat and hang out. Finding a great restaurant/bar to frequent is a great way to meet friends and local meet-up groups. Oftentimes, just going to the local library and exploring local events can get you acquainted with how the city grooves.

Allergies in Music City: Due to the number of trees and high winds in Nashville, allergies get cranked up a notch. Most Nashvillians take a daily allergy medication, have mostly wood furniture, and use allergy covers on pillows and cushions. Taking medication and protecting your eyes and nose from unnecessary allergens like dust and pollen from getting into your new home is going to be the best way to prevent the sniffles.

Tourist Town: Nashville is a very popular vacation destination, so be mindful of out-of-state drivers and familiarize yourself with the annual event schedule. Don’t schedule a yearly doctor's appointment during the Country Music Awards (early June), or you’ll be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. There are also pros to living in a tourist town, one of them is great food. Prince’s Hot Chicken is a Nashville treasure and one of the original creators of Nashville Hot Chicken.

Marvel at Museums: Nashville is a musician’s and music lover’s heaven! The Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the National Museum of African American Music are all within a 15-minute walk of each other, and every building is on the same street! Do yourself a favor and feel the music when in Nashville, it’ll make it that much more special.

Nashville Sports: Nashville loves Hockey and Football. One would think that, being so far south, hockey wouldn’t be much of a fad, but the NHL’s Nashville Predators routinely sell out their home stadium during the season, making any Preds game special. And with plans for $650 million in renovations, Bridgestone Arena is going to be one of the best concert and sports stadiums in the country. The Tennessee Titans also call Nashville their home, and with number one pick Quarterback Cam Ward, are looking to shock the NFL.

Make Moving to Nashville Easier with U-Haul

Reliable Equipment: Tennessee is mountainous, and getting through windy canyons, you’ll need a reliable moving vehicle. Look no further than the vast U-Haul lineup of trucks! This lineup features pickups, vans, and box trucks to fit your needs.

Long Distance Moving: Need a more flexible moving solution? U-Box Containers allow for flexible moving and storage. Both Forbes and Bob Vila, for the past 4 consecutive years, have ranked U-Box the best portable moving container.

Sensible Moving Supplies: Keep away Nashville pests, pollen, and debris with Mattress Bags, Dust Covers, and Couch Covers. Take care of moisture on your humid Nashville move with moisture absorbers. U-Haul moving and packing supplies are designed to protect your belongings.

Rest Easy: If you’re not looking forward to lugging a six-drawer dresser down two flights of stairs, then you need Moving Help. Moving Help is here to tailor your moving needs. You can customize your unique Moving Help experience today!

More to Store: If you’re bringing more items than you think you have room for, that’s okay! With more than 15 storage centers with climate-controlled options to protect against humidity in Nashville, on both sides of the Cumberland River, you have easier access to your belongings.