Route comparison
Nashville, TN vs Memphis, TN: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Nashville, TN and Memphis, TN. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Nashville, TN
TN
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 96.6
- Housing RPP
- 105.8
- Goods RPP
- 94.4
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,619/mo
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Memphis, TN
TN
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 91.8
- Housing RPP
- 76.6
- Goods RPP
- 94.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,298/mo
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Equivalent salary
Memphis, TN is cheaper than Nashville, TN by about 5.0% (RPP 96.6 to 91.8).
$60,000 in Nashville, TN
-> $57,019
in Memphis, TN
$100,000 in Nashville, TN
-> $95,031
in Memphis, TN
$150,000 in Nashville, TN
-> $142,547
in Memphis, TN
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Nashville, TN vs Memphis, TN
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Nashville, TN
- Net people
- +15,937
- Net rank
- #11 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 4%
Largest source: Montgomery County, TN. Largest destination: Montgomery County, TN.
Memphis, TN
- Net people
- −4,235
- Net rank
- #41 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Davidson County, TN. Largest destination: Davidson County, TN.
Rent delta: Memphis, TN is $321/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Nashville, TN. Housing RPP moves from 105.8 to 76.6.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Memphis, TN cheaper or more expensive than Nashville, TN?
- Memphis, TN (RPP 91.8) is cheaper than Nashville, TN (RPP 96.6) by about 5.0%.
- What salary do I need in Memphis, TN if I earn $100,000 in Nashville, TN?
- You would need approximately $95,031 in Memphis, TN to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Nashville, TN. Formula: $100,000 x (91.8 / 96.6).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Nashville, TN or Memphis, TN?
- For 2021-2022, Nashville, TN had a net gain of 15,937 people, while Memphis, TN had a net loss of 4,235 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.