Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Memphis?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Memphis?

Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Jacksonville vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 24% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$877

+22% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$948

+17% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$1,073

+23% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,281

+17% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$157,100

+41% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$51,211

+24% in Jacksonville, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

$46,890

+4% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

34.3 yr

+2.1 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

57.4%

46.0%

+11.4 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

28.2%

+3.6 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Avg Commute

24.1 min

21.3 min

+2.8 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

557.6

2,507.5

+350% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,599.5

6,965.8

+168% 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

70.2°F

63.1°F

+7.1°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

53.7 in

+4.5 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$4.35/gal

+2% in Memphis, TN

Area: Florida vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.1

+1% in Memphis, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$15.54

+34% in Jacksonville, FL

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 (FL / TN)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Jacksonville vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Memphis?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Memphis?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% 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).