Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 12% higher in Memphis, TN. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$973
$877
+10% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$948
+9% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,073
+17% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,281
+11% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$157,100
+28% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$51,211
+13% in Memphis, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$46,890
+22% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.3 yr
+0.9 yr in Memphis, TN
Homeownership
25.7%
46.0%
+20.3 pp in Memphis, TN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
28.2%
+9.9 pp in Memphis, TN
Avg Commute
22.8 min
21.3 min
+1.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
2,507.6
+375% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
2,949.2
6,966.3
+136% 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
51.2°F
63.1°F
+11.9°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
53.7 in
+10.1 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Hartford, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
14.1
+42% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$19.75
+15% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Memphis, TN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / TN)
6.35%
7%
+0.7 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
None
+7.0 pp in CT

Hartford vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Memphis?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Memphis?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).