Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee Image copyleft: Image taken by me, released under GFDL, Pollinator 04:42, 25 January 2006 (UTC)
Photo by The original uploader was Pollinator at English Wikipedia. via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Murfreesboro cost of living

Price Murfreesboro around the home, the car, and corridor growth

The current Murfreesboro facts list a $1,274 typical one-bedroom rent, $3,234 minimum needed, $4,614 comfortable living, $4,680 for a couple, $226 utilities, $460 groceries, $232 dining out, and $1,064 transportation. The full budget rows are planning estimates, and Need for a Car is Required. Growth corridors can add traffic, parking, and longer regular trips beyond the center.

Tennessee has no individual income tax on wages, Social Security, pensions, 401(k), or IRA distributions under the current state guidance. A 2026 city document lists a $0.9526 city property-tax rate per $100 of assessed value, with residential property assessed at 25% of appraised value. County taxes, exemptions, insurance, utilities, and parcel charges remain separate.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $3,234 gives you the starting point, with housing taking the largest share.

Housing
$1,274
Utilities (in rent)
$226
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,614

Moderate

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,680

Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,274

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$232/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
7.7%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
26.7%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
29.1%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$64,731

Could Murfreesboro fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,234 per month
Two people
$4,680 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,274
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Murfreesboro in everyday life

Could Murfreesboro work for you?

What may work well

  • The facts separate housing, utilities, food, dining, transportation, and full-household estimates.
  • Tennessee's current income-tax treatment can simplify some retirement-income planning.
  • The city publishes property-tax, transit, and corridor information for address-level review.

What to think about

  • Need for a Car is Required and transportation is a major line.
  • Growth, traffic, cooling, insurance, taxes, utilities, and storm preparation can change the full-year cost.
  • The city rate is not the complete county and parcel bill.

Turn Murfreesboro's price inputs into a full-year plan

  1. Compare three corridors

    Record rent, traffic, parking, cooling, utilities, taxes, insurance, groceries, transit, and the route to care from each address.

  2. Confirm the tax bill

    Ask about city and county rates, assessed value, residential ratio, exemptions, due dates, residence, insurance, and parcel charges.

  3. Price the car

    Add fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, hospital trips, family visits, traffic, and the cost of backup transport.

  4. Price weather and growth

    Include cooling, drainage, flood or storm coverage, road disruption, tree work, power, traffic delays, and longer trips from growth areas.

Questions retirees ask

Is Murfreesboro affordable for retirement?

The current rows show a $1,274 one-bedroom rent, $3,234 minimum needed, $4,614 comfortable living, and $4,680 for a couple, with $226 utilities and $1,064 transportation. Add car, insurance, taxes, cooling, and traffic.

Does Tennessee tax retirement income?

Current state guidance says Tennessee has no individual income tax on wages, Social Security, pensions, 401(k), or IRA distributions. Confirm current rules and other state and local taxes before deciding.

Why does corridor choice affect cost?

Downtown, MTSU, Medical Center Parkway, Blackman, and other growth corridors differ in rent, traffic, parking, transit, errands, and the time to care.

What should a renter ask for?

Ask for cooling bills, parking, traffic, utilities, insurance responsibility, community charges, lease terms, drainage, storm history, and the route to care and groceries.

Murfreesboro's cost decision is shaped by car use and growth as much as rent. Price the exact home, traffic, taxes, cooling, insurance, utilities, and hospital route across a full year before deciding.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

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