Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 5% higher in Paterson, NJ. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — MATA vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Memphis vs Paterson — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Paterson?
- Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Paterson?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $47,000 in Paterson.
- Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Paterson?
- Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).