Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or St. Paul?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in St. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or St. Paul?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Memphis vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 30% higher in St. Paul, MN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$877

$995

+13% in St. Paul, MN

1 Bedroom

$948

$1,126

+19% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,384

+29% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,662

+30% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$280,300

+78% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$73,055

+43% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$59,320

+27% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

33.5 yr

+0.8 yr in Memphis, TN

Homeownership

46.0%

53.2%

+7.2 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

43.5%

+15.3 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

21.3 min

22.3 min

+1.0 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

619

+75% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

2,897.2

+58% 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

47.1°F

+16.0°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

28.5 in

+25.2 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.95/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

16.9

+17% in St. Paul, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$14.95

+11% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Paul, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Memphis, TN

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Paul, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / MN)

6.875%

+0.1 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Memphis vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or St. Paul?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or St. Paul?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).