Moving from Los Angeles to Nashville can be a great relocation choice for people looking to ditch LA for more affordable real estate and manageable traffic elsewhere.

Nashville is known for being a major center for the music industry, especially country music, and the city boasts so many things to do, so you’ll never be bored.

There are also endless job openings and so many colleges and universities in the city and the metropolitan area, so you won’t you won’t be short on opportunities to further your path and career.

So if you plan on trading in The City of Angels for the Music City, this guide will help answer any questions you might have about the moving process.

The Moving Process From Los Angeles to Nashville

How Far is Nashville from Los Angeles?

The distance between Los Angeles and Nashville is 2,004 miles. The driving time of this journey is approximately 29 hours, depending on traffic.

This drive is no easy feat, so you should probably do some research and hire a professional moving company to move your belongings for you.

If you choose to drive your car to Nashville and let the movers deal with the rest, the drive itself could be made into an incredible cross-country road trip! If you choose to go via the I-40, you’ll pass through Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, and Memphis on the way.

The flight time is roughly 3 hours and 35 minutes long, so if you don’t feel like driving cross country for 29+ hours, you should consider booking a flight instead.

What is the Average Cost to Move From Los Angeles to Nashville?

The average cost to move from Los Angeles to Nashville is between $3,800-$8,000. That means on average it costs roughly $5,812.

Determining the exact cost of a move from Los Angeles to Nashville can be tricky. Several different factors must be taken into account, including how many items you plan to move, the dates of the move, to whether you plan to hire a professional moving company.

Should I Move From Los Angeles to Nashville?

If you’re tired of the high cost of living and extortionate rent prices in LA and want a city that excites you with the endless opportunities and things to do, then you should move from Los Angeles to Nashville.

How Los Angeles Compares to Nashville

Living Costs Compared

Moving from Los Angeles to Nashville doesn’t have to bring about a huge drastic change in lifestyle, you can have the same standard of living but for nearly half the price.  

Nashville is a city that feels familiar but maintains its own unique personality while being easier on your wallet.

The median rent for a 2-bedroom apartment will set you back $2,820 in Los Angeles. In Nashville, you can expect to pay just $1,215 for a 2-bedroom apartment.

If you’re planning to buy real estate in Nashville, you’ll be delighted to know that buying a home is 2.5 times cheaper than buying a home in Los Angeles. The median sale price of a 3-bedroom house in LA is $827,579. In Nashville, the median sale price of a 3 bedroom house is only $326,327.

You can also expect transportation, groceries, healthcare and entertainment costs to be a lot cheaper in Nashville compared to Los Angeles.

Public Transportation

WeGo Public Transit is a public transportation agency based in Nashville. It consists of city buses and paratransit that connect Nashville and Davidson County. Most bus routes serve the downtown transit station, Music City Central.

Similar to LA, residents in Nashville tend to rely on their own vehicles to get around, especially if they are living in the suburbs. But the difference is, traffic isn’t such an issue in Nashville as it is in Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, a 30-day pass costs $100 and a one-way ticket is only $1.75. In Nashville, a 31-day pass costs $65 and a one-way ticket is $2.

Weather

The summer weather in Nashville has similarities to the summer weather in LA, so there won’t be too much readjustment on that front. But you can expect more rainy days in Nashville than what you might be used to in LA.

Winters in the two cities differ slightly. While LA gets no snowfall throughout the year, Nashville can get around 4 inches of snow per year. The coldest average monthly temperature in LA is around 45℉, whereas the average winter temperature in Nashville can hit as low as 27℉.

Moving From Los Angeles to Nashville DMV

If you are moving from Los Angeles to Nashville, you’ll need to plan on getting a new driver’s license.

New residents in Tennessee have 30 days to apply to get their new driver’s license and registration after establishing residency in the state.

To do this, you must visit your nearest driver’s license office in person. More information about what you will need to complete the process can be found here.

Buying a home in Nashville

As mentioned previously, buying a home in Nashville is 2.5 times cheaper than buying a home in Los Angeles, so it’s definitely worth considering purchasing property over renting.

The following neighborhoods are great places to begin house hunting in Nashville.


East Nashville

Are you looking to live in a progressive neighborhood that has an eclectic and artsy vibe? Well, East Nashville is the place for you! The neighborhood attracts young professionals who are seeking an easy-going environment filled with art galleries and coffee shops.

Due to the neighborhood’s popularity, house prices have been rising in the area. But if you compare the prices to what you would pay for the same type of house in LA, you will realize how great buying a home in Nashville can be. East Nashville is becoming very conscious of its future and is trying to set stricter building codes alongside plans for a mass transit train system in the area too.

Mt. Juliet

Are you looking for a safe neighborhood that offers great schools for your kids? Well, Mt. Juliet is the Nashville suburb for you. Mt. Juliet has been ranked as the 5th safest place in Tennessee and has also been named as one of the fastest-growing places in Tennessee too.

The area is situated about 30 minutes from downtown Nashville and is a popular spot for families due to the highly-rated public schools that exist here. So if you love living in a typical neighborhood that has dog parks, community pools, great restaurants, and shopping, then Mt.Juliet is a great choice. 

The Nations

If you love open space and a small-town feel to a place, The Nations might be a great neighborhood for you. The neighborhood has homes built as far back as the 1930s, but they are fully renovated and modern for our 21st century needs, so you’ll be able to find an eclectic mix of homes.

The Nations is pretty close to Downtown Nashville, but just far away enough away to retain its laid-back feel. So if you like more space and are willing to drive a little farther for work, this neighborhood is a great option.

Selling Your Property in Los Angeles

If you are planning to sell your house in LA, the first step in the process is finding the right realtor for you. After you have found the right realtor, then you’ll have to decide when the right time is to sell your home.

Since housing prices can fluctuate depending on what time of the year you decide to sell, you must know when the best time to list and sell your home is.

In Los Angeles, the best month to list your home is the month of March. Usually, it takes around 3 months to close on the sale, so you could expect a sale in June.

Another important step of the selling process is figuring out how much your house is worth and comparing your home to the area’s market value. An experienced real estate agent can provide you with a market analysis and support you with the process.

Finding a Job in Nashville Before You Move There

As we mentioned earlier, Nashville is a great city to move to for job opportunities in the music industry. But Nashville’s major industry is actually healthcare and is home to 300 healthcare companies.

So if you are wondering where to begin the job hunt, the following places are a great place to start looking

City of Nashville: Employment Center

If you are interested in finding a government job within the City of Nashville and want to help the city thrive, check out the current job openings here.

Indeed

Indeed is a great site for finding job listings across a wide range of industries. You can use the tools to filter your search and narrow down the listings to the area or suburb in Nashville that you plan to move to.

Check out the current job listings here.

Word of Mouth

Do you know anyone that’s living in the Nashville area? Try reaching out to them and ask them if they know of any places that are looking to hire.

Moving From Los Angeles to Nashville Checklist

The following checklist can help you figure out what needs to be accomplished before trading the City of Angels for the Music City.

At Least 4 to 6 Weeks Before the Move

– Organize a professional moving company.

– Let your health care physician, dentist, and other service providers know that you are moving.

– Order moving supplies or ask your moving company to provide them as an additional service

– It is a great idea to sell or donate your unwanted items. You can sell on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or you can donate them to the Salvation Army and they will pick items up at no charge.

– Begin packing; clearly mark boxes with a marker indicating which room they will be going into at delivery.

– You will need to make your change of address known to several different places, such as wherever you do your banking, the DMV, your workplace, any other financial institutions (such as credit card providers), the post office, your utility provider, and, saving the most important for last, your friends and family.

– Sort plane tickets if you’re planning to fly.

2 Weeks Prior to the Move

– It is imperative to clean and/or make needed repairs on your old home before moving out, since leaving your place an absolute mess may leave your security deposit in jeopardy.

– Because of the abundance of fragile items in your kitchen, you’ll want to pack these items away long in advance, with protective bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken in transit.

– You will also want to begin packing your things from bedrooms and bathrooms, except for your essential items that you will be using until you move.

– If necessary, you will want to arrange a babysitter for your kids and/or pets for parts of the move that you need to be able to focus and get things done.

A Couple of Days Before Your Move

– Clean up your home completely, double checking any cracks and crevices that may have your stuff hidden away.

– Unless your movers will do it for you, dissassemble your furniture to make your move a smoother process, and ensure to keep any screws, brackets, or other small items that are needed for reassembly. Pro tip: tape these smaller items in a bag to the bottom of the furniture.

– Print out the floor plan of your new home and have enough for the movers as well.

– You may want to hit the ATM before moving day, as you’ll need to have enough cash to tip your movers. Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip $20-$30 per mover.

– Make sure that you confirm with your movers the details of your move. The last thing that you want is to have moving day come around, and you and your movers aren’t on the same page.

– Get in touch with the landlord or current homeowner of your new place, and ensure that you’ll be able to get the keys to your new place when you arrive.

– Document the condition of your old place through pictures and videos, to ensure that you have proof of its state. This will come in handy if your landlord tries to keep your deposit, based on incorrect facts.

Moving Day

– Hand over your old home’s keys to the necessary people, such as landlord or building management.

– Do a quick run-through of your home to ensure that nothing gets left behind, whether it’s just a smaller item, or an entire box of stuff.

– Ensure that everything you packed up is in your new home before unpacking everything.

– If the moving company you are working with is going to assemble your furniture, make sure that they reassemble it in the correct room to avoid unnecessary work.

– Be sure to thank everyone helping you move, and leave them a tip!

You did it! Congrats and enjoy your new home!

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