Cost of Living in Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN scores 86 on the cost-of-living index — about 14% cheaper than the US average of 100, and #73 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: Memphis vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in Memphis to keep the same standard of living.
To live the way $100,000 affords in Memphis, TN, you would need about $217,442 in New York City, NY — roughly 117.4% more.
| Category | Memphis | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 86 | 187 | +117% |
| Housing | 70 | 287 | +310% |
| Groceries | 94 | 137 | +46% |
| Utilities | 92 | 130 | +41% |
| Transportation | 93 | 120 | +29% |
| Healthcare | 96 | 128 | +33% |
Memphis cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | −14% |
| Housing | 70 | −30% |
| Groceries | 94 | −6% |
| Utilities | 92 | −8% |
| Transportation | 93 | −7% |
| Healthcare | 96 | −4% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Memphis expensive to live in?
Memphis, TN has a cost-of-living index of 86, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 14% cheaper than a typical US city, and ranks it #73 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 70.
What is the cost-of-living index for Memphis?
The overall index is 86 (US average = 100). By category: housing 70, groceries 94, utilities 92, transportation 93 and healthcare 96. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in Memphis?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in Memphis to keep the same standard of living.
How is the Memphis cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in Memphis?
In Memphis, housing is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 70), while healthcare is the priciest (index 96).