Nashville vs San Diego
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Nashville, TN | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $483K | $970K |
| Median single-family | $530K | $1.27M |
| Median condo | $379K | $618K |
| Median $/sq ft | $277 | $693 |
| Median days on market | 59 | 21 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 98.1% | 99.2% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,610 | 1,440 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 19,670 | n/a |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Nashville is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $483K versus $970K in San Diego, roughly 50% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 3,610 square feet in Nashville at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,440 in San Diego. San Diego homes have been moving faster, 21 median days on market versus 59 in Nashville. San Diego is in California, so its income tax matches LA's. Tennessee has no tax on wage income. About 20,000 people moved from California to Tennessee in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Nashville: None on wages (Tennessee fully repealed its Hall tax on investment income in 2021). San Diego: Same as LA (California, progressive, top rate 13.3%). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Nashville and moving from LA to San Diego.
Common questions
Is Nashville or San Diego cheaper?
Nashville had the lower median sale price, about $483K versus $970K in San Diego (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 50% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Nashville or San Diego?
Nashville has the lower state income tax. Tennessee has no tax on wage income. By comparison, California has a progressive income tax with a top marginal rate of 13.3% (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Nashville vs San Diego?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,610 square feet in Nashville and 1,440 in San Diego, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
