Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Houston, TX versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 19% higher in Houston, 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.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Houston vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — Houston METRO vs MATA (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Houston vs Memphis — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Memphis?
- Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Memphis?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $38,000 in Memphis.
- Which has lower taxes, Houston or Memphis?
- Houston 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).