S T SalaryCompareTool

Cost of living in Memphis, TN

Livability score 70 · cost-of-living index 91.9 (US = 100)

Memphis, TN
Photo: Quintin Soloviev via Commons · CC BY 4.0

How Memphis compares

Where Memphis falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $247k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $247k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $124 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $124 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.87% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.87% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 600 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 600 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.9 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.9 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30°

Map of Memphis

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.9 metro-area #58 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 94.3 metro-area #45 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.23 metro-area #55 of 200
Median household income $62,178 metro-area #164 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $39,034 metro-area #115 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 36.7 years metro-area #53 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 30.7% metro-area #128 of 200
Foreign-born residents 6.1% metro-area #143 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 60.6% metro-area #168 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 6.84% metro-area #180 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) -0.6% metro-area #178 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $247,229 metro-area #41 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.0× metro-area #54 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +0.1% metro-area #135 of 200
Price per square foot $124 metro-area #32 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,441 metro-area #61 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 6,017
Median days on market 24 metro-area #137 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 7.6% state #2 of 200
Combined sales tax 9.55% state #189 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 0.87% metro-area #101 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,815 metro-area #51 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 72.0 years metro-area #196 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 state #17 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 11.2% metro-area #139 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 66 metro-area #150 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 state #25 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $55 state #13 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail Statewide testing ended 2022
DMV & license offices 7
Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #101 of 200
Commute by driving alone 79.6% metro-area #174 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 34.5% metro-area #129 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 14.9¢/kWh state #32 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $134 state #32 of 200
Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $121 state #132 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $2,200 state #129 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 92.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #128 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 56 metro-area #181 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,700 metro-area #128 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,600 metro-area #94 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 64 metro-area #144 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 2 metro-area #144 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200
Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200
Annual precipitation 54.9" metro-area #182 of 200
Annual snowfall 2.7" metro-area #76 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 64% metro-area #59 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 7a
Frost window 04-10 → 11-01

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 600 state #185 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 37 metro-area #128 of 200
Parks 55
Hiking areas 12
Golf courses 18
Shooting ranges 5
Lakes 12

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Memphis

Major public and private employers in the Memphis, TN area.

EmployerSectorJobs
FedEx logistics Careers →
Shelby County Schools Education Search →
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Search →
Baptist Memorial Healthcare Search →
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Healthcare Careers →
Smith & Nephew Manufacturing Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Memphis

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $168,630
Pharmacists $132,780
Marketing Managers $132,720
Financial Managers $130,310
Human Resources Managers $125,270
Lawyers $121,550
Physician Assistants $117,380
Software Developers $113,500
Data Scientists $101,120
Physical Therapists $100,220
Mechanical Engineers $99,990
General & Operations Managers $95,460
Civil Engineers $86,650
Construction Managers $84,690
Registered Nurses $77,290
Web Developers $76,940
Accountants & Auditors $72,060
Dental Hygienists $71,720
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $64,360
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,050
Elementary School Teachers $55,180
Electricians $54,660
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $54,650
Carpenters $47,700
Graphic Designers $47,520
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $45,260
Real Estate Sales Agents $38,460
Medical Assistants $37,550

Find a job in Memphis

Cities in the Memphis area

Ad · affiliate links

Compare Memphis with…

More TN metros →