Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 51% higher in Overland Park, KS. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,270
+45% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,224
+29% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,589
+48% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$1,828
+43% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$384,400
+145% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$103,838
+103% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$50,820
+8% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.6 yr
+4.3 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
46.0%
61.5%
+15.5 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
62.9%
+34.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
21.3 min
19.9 min
+1.4 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.6
188.4
+92% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,966.3
1,790.5
+74% 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
55.2°F
+7.9°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
40.0 in
+13.6 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/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)
14.1
15.7
+12% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.75
$25.12
+27% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Overland Park, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Memphis, TN
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Overland Park, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / KS)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.58%
+5.6 pp in KS

Memphis vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Overland Park?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Overland Park?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).