Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Naperville?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Naperville?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 66% higher in Naperville, IL. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,713

+95% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$948

$1,594

+68% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,889

+76% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$2,446

+91% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$509,900

+225% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$150,937

+195% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$54,720

+17% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

40.1 yr

+5.8 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

46.0%

74.3%

+28.3 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

71.7%

+43.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

21.3 min

31.4 min

+10.1 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

85.7

+97% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

892.2

+87% 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

63.1°F

49.9°F

+13.2°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

36.9 in

+16.8 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

23.9

+65% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$15.39

+9% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Memphis, TN

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / IL)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Memphis vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Naperville?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Naperville?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).