Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Memphis?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Memphis?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 28% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$815

$877

+8% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$900

$948

+5% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,073

+1% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,281

+2% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$157,100

+40% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$51,211

+28% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

$46,890

+9% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

34.3 yr

+2.1 yr in Huntsville, AL

Homeownership

58.1%

46.0%

+12.1 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

28.2%

+18.0 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

21.3 min

+2.0 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

2,507.6

+419% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,395.7

6,966.3

+191% 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

62.1°F

63.1°F

+1.0°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

53.7 in

+0.7 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Memphis, TN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.1

+14% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$19.75

+18% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / TN)

+3.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

None

+5.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Memphis?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Memphis?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).