Want to live and work in Tennessee?

The cost of living in Tennessee is, overall, well below the American average. Rent, food, gas, and taxes weigh less on the budget. The state does not tax wages, which increases the net take-home pay each month.

Nashville has grown a lot and rent and home prices have risen in recent years. Even so, it remains more affordable than cities like Boston, San Francisco, or New York. Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and smaller cities offer very affordable rent and large homes at competitive prices.

On the other side, Tennessee's sales tax is among the highest in the US, at around 9.5% combined between the state and city. That affects every daily purchase, so the final monthly budget calculation needs to account for both ends.

Nashville stands out in healthcare. HCA Healthcare, one of the largest hospital networks in the world, is headquartered there, and dozens of sector companies orbit it. Music and entertainment also drive the economy, with record labels, studios, and tours. Technology has grown, with companies like Oracle announcing expansion into the city.

Memphis is the logistics hub of the US. FedEx has its global hub there, at the airport. This generates thousands of jobs in transportation, warehousing, and services. The automotive industry is strong across the state: Nissan, Volkswagen, and General Motors maintain large factories (Smyrna, Chattanooga, Spring Hill).

There are also jobs in education (universities), tourism (Smoky Mountains, Dollywood), agriculture (cotton, soybeans), and services. Wages are lower than on the coasts, but combined with a lower cost of living and no income tax, the net result is usually favorable.

The US has no universal public system. In Tennessee, people with formal employment receive health insurance as a salary benefit from their employer. For those without employment or self-employed, there is the insurance market through HealthCare.gov, with income-based subsidies.

Low-income families are eligible for TennCare (the state Medicaid program), free or with small co-pays. Eligibility rules are more restrictive than in other states. An emergency room visit without insurance can easily exceed US$ 1,500.

The hospital network is strong in Nashville, with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center among the best in the Southeast. Memphis has St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a world reference for childhood cancer. In rural areas, some hospitals have closed, reducing access outside the major cities.

Tennessee is a state built for drivers. Distances are large, and public transit outside urban centers is weak. Most families have at least one car, often two. Rentals far from work require a daily car commute.

In Nashville, WeGo Public Transit operates buses and has an expanding network, but it does not yet cover the entire metro area. Memphis has MATA, and Knoxville and Chattanooga have local systems. Apps like Uber and Lyft work well in all major cities.

Nashville International (BNA) is the main airport, with flights to the entire US and some international connections. Memphis International (MEM) is FedEx's global hub. For frequent travelers, BNA has grown significantly in recent years and offers good departure options.

Music is in Tennessee's DNA. Nashville is the world capital of country, with the Grand Ole Opry (the genre's oldest radio program) and Lower Broadway packed with live music bars every day. Belmont and Vanderbilt shape singers and songwriters who move from across the US for their shot at a music career.

Memphis is the birthplace of blues and where Elvis Presley got his start. Beale Street, Sun Records, the Stax Museum, and Elvis's home (Graceland) attract millions of tourists each year. African American music, from gospel to soul, has deep roots in the city.

Beyond music, Tennessee is known for Southern food: fried chicken, biscuits, barbecue (especially pork in Memphis), and corn-based dishes. Jack Daniel's, in Lynchburg, and Tennessee whiskey shape the cultural landscape. The Smoky Mountains draw nature lovers.

Tennessee is home to roughly 400,000 people born outside the country, close to 6% of the population. Mexicans form the largest community in Nashville (in the Antioch neighborhood) and in Memphis, tied to construction, restaurants, and food processing. Nashville hosts the largest Kurdish community in the United States, in the neighborhood known as Little Kurdistan, formed by refugees who arrived in three waves since the 1970s, with mosques and markets of their own. Indians cluster in Nashville and Franklin, tied to tech and healthcare.

Nashville hosts the Consulate-General of Mexico, covering the entire state. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is the largest immigrant advocacy organization in the state, with offices in Nashville and Memphis. The Nashville International Center for Empowerment serves refugees from more than 60 countries. Hispanic parishes, Hindu temples, and Kurdish mosques serve each community.