A+
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
32%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Murfreesboro Tennessee National
Cost of living10789100
Goods & Services9494100
Groceries10098100
Health care9188100
Housing13280100
Transportation9289100
Utilities10293100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Murfreesboro, TN

The cost of living in Murfreesboro affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Murfreesboro is 107, which is 7% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Murfreesboro are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Murfreesboro can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Murfreesboro cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 32.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Murfreesboro?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 12 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Murfreesboro. The feedback revealed that 25% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 75% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Murfreesboro Affordable?

Is Murfreesboro affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Murfreesboro, the median home price is 39.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 15.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Murfreesboro boasting a median household income of $60,683, 9.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Murfreesboro?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Murfreesboro, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Murfreesboro, the utilities index registers at 2.1% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Murfreesboro cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Murfreesboro is 20% higher than the Tennessee average
  • The cost of living in Murfreesboro is 7% higher than the national average
  • Murfreesboro housing is 32% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Murfreesboro

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Compare Murfreesboro, TN Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$91,360$7,613$2,132$2,741
      Renters$44,479$3,707$1,038$1,335
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Murfreesboro, TN, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Murfreesboro homeowners, is $91,360. This would allow for a maximum of $2,132 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $44,479 which would result in a maximum of $1,038 to be spent on rental costs.

      Tennessee Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Tennessee 7% 9.75%

      Tennessee Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Tennessee 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.76$24.262.1%
      Beauty Salon $46.01$45.561.0%
      Toothpaste $3.71$3.700.2%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.9%
      Movie $13.30$12.139.6%
      Bowling $19.79$18.009.9%

      Groceries

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.2%
      Potatoes $5.16$4.934.6%
      Pizza $10.85$12.0910.3%
      Beer $10.05$10.413.5%

      Health Care

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.03$125.6823.6%
      Doctor $116.91$135.7813.9%
      Dentist $104.65$113.297.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.51$10.651.3%
      Lipitor $460.51$468.601.7%

      Housing

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      Home Price $257,500.00$184,700.0039.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,548.79$2,346.698.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,095.00$949.0015.4%

      Transportation

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.469.8%
      Tire Balancing $57.43$59.924.2%

      Utilities

      Item Murfreesboro National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $183.77$193.995.3%
      Phone $218.37$192.2513.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      La Vergne, TN35,5561000.5%
      Smyrna, TN50,8201021.7%
      Walterhill, TN1581043.6%
      Eagleville, TN9431044.3%
      Christiana, TN4,7011099.3%
      Murfreesboro, TN141,7041076.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pasadena, CA142,01719191.3%
      Milton, ON142,128n/a 
      Midland, TX141,19411010.2%
      Fullerton, CA141,06117069.6%
      Mesquite, TX142,4291022.1%
      Murfreesboro, TN141,7041076.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.