Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Memphis?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Memphis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Memphis?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 30% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$877

+19% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$948

+20% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,073

+24% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,281

+30% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$157,100

+43% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$51,211

+30% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$46,890

+9% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.3 yr

+0.7 yr in Memphis, TN

Homeownership

54.8%

46.0%

+8.8 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

28.2%

+4.9 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

21.3 min

+5.4 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

2,507.5

+409% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,433.5

6,965.8

+186% in Memphis, TN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

63.1°F

+2.3°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

53.7 in

+14.1 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.35/gal

+10% in Memphis, TN

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.1

+8% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$15.54

+37% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / TN)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Arlington vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Memphis?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Memphis?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).