Is $55,000 a good salary in Tennessee?

$55,000 in Tennessee provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,858 after taxes. Across major Tennessee cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,526.

What is the cost of living on $55,000 in Tennessee?

The average monthly living cost across major Tennessee cities is approximately $2,332 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $55,000 take-home pay of $3,858/month, you would have roughly $1,526/month remaining.

Living in Tennessee · 2026

Is $55,000 enough to live in Tennessee?

Single adult · TN · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,858

Avg monthly expenses

$2,332

Avg monthly surplus

$1,526

Savings potential

~40%

After-tax take-home in Tennessee

Gross salary$55,000

Federal income tax− $4,494

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $3,410

Medicare− $798

Annual take-home$46,298

Effective tax rate15.82%

How $55,000 feels in Tennessee cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Nashville

COL index: 1.31× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,900

Food

$475

Transport

$229

Utilities

$216

Healthcare

$262

Total: $3,082/mo

Surplus: $776/mo

Rent burden: 49.2% — High (35–50%)

Full Nashville analysis →

Memphis

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$387

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,978/mo

Surplus: $1,880/mo

Rent burden: 28.5% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Memphis analysis →

Knoxville

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$405

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,261/mo

Surplus: $1,597/mo

Rent burden: 33.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Knoxville analysis →

Chattanooga

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$396

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,186/mo

Surplus: $1,672/mo

Rent burden: 32.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Chattanooga analysis →

Clarksville

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$405

Transport

$166

Utilities

$157

Healthcare

$190

Total: $2,068/mo

Surplus: $1,790/mo

Rent burden: 29.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Clarksville analysis →

Murfreesboro

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$431

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,414/mo

Surplus: $1,444/mo

Rent burden: 36.3% — High (35–50%)

Full Murfreesboro analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,858 ($46,296/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,929

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,157

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$772

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$23,148

Wants / year

$13,889

Savings / year

$9,259

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Nashville

Rent would consume 49% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.1/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $55,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Nashville, Tennessee, with approximately $776/month (~20% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Nashville's above-average cost of living (index: 1.31) means $55,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $41,985 in an average-cost US city, or $49,542 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$55,000 is 45% above the Tennessee individual median ($38,000) and 2% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$38,000

+45%

State household median

$65,619

-16%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$55,000 vs. Tennessee income benchmarks

Individual median (Tennessee)

$38,000

+45% vs. this salary

Household median (Tennessee)

$65,619

-16% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Tennessee

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.