Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Portland?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Portland?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 33% higher in Portland, ME. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,038

+18% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$948

$1,331

+40% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,664

+55% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,919

+50% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$452,600

+188% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$76,174

+49% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$56,960

+21% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

37.5 yr

+3.2 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

46.0%

46.7%

+0.7 pp in Portland, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

59.2%

+31.0 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

21.3 min

19.9 min

+1.4 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

272.7

+89% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

2,513.3

+64% 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

46.5°F

+16.6°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

47.3 in

+6.4 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Memphis, TN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

28.6

+98% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$21.00

+25% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Portland, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Memphis, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Portland, ME

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Portland, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / ME)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.15%

+7.2 pp in ME

Memphis vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Portland?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Portland?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).