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Cost of Living · Tennessee

Memphis Cost of Living

Memphis, Tennessee costs approximately 11.0% below the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.

0.89×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Memphis ranks 3 of 3 cities in Tennessee by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Memphis (91)
San Francisco, CA
+62.9% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+51.7% more expensive
New York City, NY
+48.3% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+46.1% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+46.1% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+37.1% more expensive
Boston, MA
+37.1% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+36.0% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+34.8% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+34.8% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+32.6% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+32.6% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+32.6% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+32.6% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+29.2% more expensive
Miami, FL
+25.8% more expensive
Portland, OR
+23.6% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+23.6% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+23.6% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+23.6% more expensive
Denver, CO
+21.3% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+18.0% more expensive
Austin, TX
+18.0% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+18.0% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+18.0% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+18.0% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+18.0% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+18.0% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+16.9% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+16.9% more expensive
Plano, TX
+16.9% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+16.9% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+14.6% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+14.6% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+14.6% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+14.6% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+14.6% more expensive
Reno, NV
+14.6% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+14.6% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+14.6% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+14.6% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+13.5% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+12.4% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+12.4% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+12.4% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+12.4% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+12.4% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+12.4% more expensive
Boise, ID
+12.4% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+12.4% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+12.4% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+11.2% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+11.2% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+11.2% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+11.2% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+11.2% more expensive
Madison, WI
+11.2% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+10.1% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+9.0% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+9.0% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+9.0% more expensive
Houston, TX
+7.9% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+7.9% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+7.9% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+7.9% more expensive
Garland, TX
+7.9% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+7.9% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+6.7% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+6.7% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+6.7% more expensive
Milwaukee, WI
+5.6% more expensive
Albuquerque, NM
+5.6% more expensive
New Orleans, LA
+5.6% more expensive
San Antonio, TX
+4.5% more expensive
Grand Rapids, MI
+4.5% more expensive
Columbus, OH
+3.4% more expensive
Detroit, MI
+3.4% more expensive
Cincinnati, OH
+3.4% more expensive
Kansas City, MO
+3.4% more expensive
Lexington, KY
+3.4% more expensive
Corpus Christi, TX
+3.4% more expensive
Buffalo, NY
+3.4% more expensive
Greensboro, NC
+3.4% more expensive
Knoxville, TN
+3.4% more expensive
El Paso, TX
+2.2% more expensive
Cleveland, OH
+2.2% more expensive
St. Louis, MO
+2.2% more expensive
Winston-Salem, NC
+2.2% more expensive
Indianapolis, IN
+1.1% more expensive
Louisville, KY
+1.1% more expensive
Omaha, NE
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Memphis (6)
Birmingham, AL
−1.1% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−1.1% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−1.1% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−3.4% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−3.4% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−3.4% cheaper

Memphis cost of living, in context

With a cost-of-living index of 0.89× the US national average, Memphis sits below the typical American cost baseline. 91 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 6 cost less.

What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. Memphis's lower costs reflect more affordable housing and a less constrained real estate market.

Salary in Memphis

Salaries in Memphis typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $89K for the same role in Memphis. See our salary by job in Memphis pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.

Related tools

Memphis Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. Memphis salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of living index for Memphis?▾
Memphis's cost-of-living index is 0.89× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 11.0% below the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Is Memphis expensive to live in?▾
Memphis is below US average cost of living, making it relatively affordable. Lower housing costs are usually the main reason.
What salary do I need to live in Memphis?▾
Living comfortably in Memphis typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $45K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.
How does Memphis compare within Tennessee?▾
Memphis ranks 3 of 3 cities we track in Tennessee by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.
Where does this index come from?▾
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.