🇺🇸 North America

FIRE Number for Nashville, United States

United States

Music City, No State Income Tax, and Southern Hospitality

6.9
FIRE Score Based on safety, healthcare, infrastructure & expat friendliness

Nashville combines zero state income tax with a booming cultural scene, world-class healthcare, and genuine Southern hospitality. The city's music heritage extends far beyond country — it is a hub for rock, indie, and Americana. Nashville's food scene has exploded in recent years, and the cost of living, while rising, remains well below coastal cities. Excellent hospitals like Vanderbilt make it particularly attractive for retirees who value medical access.

Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE for Nashville

The portfolio you need to retire in Nashville at each lifestyle level, based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate.

Lifestyle FIRE Number Monthly Cost
Lean FIRE
$1.23M $4,100/mo
FIRE
$2.04M $6,800/mo
Fat FIRE
$5.1M $17,000/mo
Cost data: Q1 2026 · High confidence

Cost of Living Breakdown for Nashville

Lean FIRE Lifestyle

$1.23M

You live in an outer neighborhood like Madison or Antioch and cook most meals at home, but Nashville's lack of state income tax helps your budget go further. Free live music on Lower Broadway and the city's excellent parks provide regular entertainment at no cost. Dining out is limited to affordable hot chicken and BBQ spots a couple of times a week.

FIRE Lifestyle

$2.04M

You can rent a house in a desirable area like 12 South or Sylvan Park and dine regularly at top Nashville restaurants. Season tickets to the Predators or Titans are within reach, along with regular travel and good private healthcare through the Vanderbilt network. Weekend trips to the Tennessee countryside or Great Smoky Mountains are a natural addition.

Fat FIRE Lifestyle

$5.1M

Premium housing in Belle Meade or Oak Hill, regular fine dining, a cook who comes several times a week, and a housekeeper. Business class or first class travel, full concierge healthcare at Vanderbilt, and a private suite at Bridgestone Arena for concerts and Predators games. Nashville's zero income tax and moderate cost of living mean you never think about day-to-day spending.

Retirement Confidence

Enter your portfolio on the homepage to see Monte Carlo retirement confidence for Nashville.

Important notes on retirement confidence

A 90% confidence level is widely considered a strong retirement plan — it means your portfolio survived in 9 out of 10 historically-modeled scenarios. A 95% or higher rate is extremely conservative. Reaching 100% is nearly impossible in any Monte Carlo model, because there will always be a few extreme worst-case market sequences that deplete any portfolio.

Early retirees may need portfolios to last 40-50+ years. The 4% rule was originally validated for 30-year retirements. Consider a more conservative withdrawal rate (3-3.5%) for very early retirement.

Healthcare, Visa & City Overview

climate Warm
healthcare Excellent
english Widely spoken
safety Exercise caution
visa Easy
Timezone

CST (UTC-6)

Currency

USD

Language

English

Avg. Temperature

59°F / 15°C

Internet

200+ Mbps average

Airport

Nashville International (BNA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Retiring in Nashville

What is the FIRE Number for Nashville, United States?

The FIRE Number for Nashville ranges from $1.23M (Lean FIRE lifestyle) to $5.1M (Fat FIRE lifestyle). A FIRE retirement requires a portfolio of approximately $2.04M, based on estimated monthly costs of $6,800 and a 4% safe withdrawal rate.

How much does it cost to retire in Nashville?

Monthly living costs in Nashville range from $4,100 (Lean FIRE) to $6,800 (FIRE), covering housing, dining, groceries, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and utilities.

What is healthcare like in Nashville for retirees?

Healthcare in Nashville costs approximately $700 to $750/month depending on coverage level. ACA Silver plan; Tennessee has no exchange but federal marketplace works well.

What is the weather like in Nashville?

Subtropical with hot summers and mild to cool winters The average temperature is 59°F / 15°C.

How safe is Nashville for retirees?

Moderate – safe in most neighborhoods with typical urban caution

How Nashville Compares

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