Sycamore, IL vs Nashville, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Nashville, TN has a modeled overall cost index 9.3% higher than Sycamore, IL.

Sycamore, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,410 / month
Nashville, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Sycamore, IL and Nashville, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Sycamore, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $558/month in Nashville, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,696 in Nashville, TN

Regional cost estimates: Sycamore, IL uses Chicago, IL. Nashville, TN uses Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 9.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$558

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$6.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Sycamore, IL

Population:19K

Cost Index:

94.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$308K

Nashville, TN

Population:689K

Cost Index:

103.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$489K

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Sycamore, IL

The Prairie State

19K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Nashville, TN

The Volunteer State

689K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Climate

Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

•Music City USA
•Country music capital
•Healthcare industry hub

Major Industries

Music IndustryHealthcareTourismFinance

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sycamore, IL vs Nashville, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Sycamore, IL	Nashville, TN	Difference	Change
Other	$1,552/mo	$1,968/mo	↑ $416more	26.8%
Housing	$2,437/mo	$2,686/mo	↑ $249more	10.2%
Transportation	$1,484/mo	$1,301/mo	↓ $183less	12.3%
Healthcare	$563/mo	$615/mo	↑ $52.63more	9.4%
All Utilities	$491/mo	$526/mo	↑ $34.98more	7.1%
Groceries	$974/mo	$962/mo	↓ $11.65less	1.2%

Other

↑ 26.8%

Sycamore, IL

$1,552

Nashville, TN

$1,968

Difference

$416

Housing

↑ 10.2%

Sycamore, IL

$2,437

Nashville, TN

$2,686

Difference

$249

Transportation

↓ 12.3%

Sycamore, IL

$1,484

Nashville, TN

$1,301

Difference

$183

less

Healthcare

↑ 9.4%

Sycamore, IL

$563

Nashville, TN

$615

Difference

$52.63

All Utilities

↑ 7.1%

Sycamore, IL

$491

Nashville, TN

$526

Difference

$34.98

Groceries

↓ 1.2%

Sycamore, IL

$974

Nashville, TN

$962

Difference

$11.65

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$970

To$1,600

↑ $630

1 Bed

From$1,080

To$1,680

↑ $600

2 Bed

From$1,410

To$1,840

↑ $430

3 Bed

From$1,870

To$2,350

↑ $480

Sycamore, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,080–$1,080/mo

Nashville, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,320–$2,230/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Sycamore, IL

$8,058

Monthly in Nashville, TN

$558

Difference

Home Values

Sycamore

Nashville

$308K

Median Value

$489K

↑ +4.3%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +38.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.1%

$308K

Price Range

$320K - $1.16M

Homes in Nashville are 59% more expensive than Sycamore

Calculate payment - Sycamore Calculate payment - Nashville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $7.4K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$619

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.9%

Rate difference

Sycamore, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Nashville, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Sycamore, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Nashville, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Sycamore

Nashville

54 Moderate

Air Quality

50 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

51.6%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🫨🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

Before moving from Sycamore, IL to Nashville, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Nashville, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sycamore, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Sycamore to Nashville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Nashville, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sycamore, IL vs Nashville, TN

How do the cost estimates for Sycamore, IL and Nashville, TN compare?

Nashville, TN has a modeled overall cost index 9.3% higher than Sycamore, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Sycamore, IL, the model estimates $156,696 in Nashville, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Sycamore, IL and Nashville, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,410/month in Sycamore, IL and $1,840/month in Nashville, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com