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, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Memphis vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 42% higher in Portland, OR. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,294

+48% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$948

$1,440

+52% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,741

+62% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$2,053

+60% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$557,600

+255% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$88,792

+73% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$60,690

+29% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

38.6 yr

+4.3 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

46.0%

52.8%

+6.8 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

53.5%

+25.3 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

21.3 min

24.6 min

+3.3 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.5

731.7

+71% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,965.8

5,605.5

+20% 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

54.5°F

+8.6°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

42.9 in

+10.8 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.57/gal

+28% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$2.80

+60% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

14.9

+1% in Memphis, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.54

$17.98

+16% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / OR)

None

+7.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

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, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).