Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 16% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,126
+28% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,189
+25% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,394
+30% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$1,406
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$232,400
+48% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$60,698
+19% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$54,310
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
46.0%
52.3%
+6.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
34.6%
+6.4 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
21.3 min
32.0 min
+10.7 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.5
916.8
+63% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,965.8
4,614.3
+34% 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
57.1°F
+6.0°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
48.5 in
+5.2 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Memphis, TN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
20.9
+39% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.54
$16.67
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Memphis, TN
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.92
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / PA)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.07%
+3.1 pp in PA

Memphis vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Philadelphia?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Philadelphia?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).