Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Salem?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Salem?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Memphis vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 29% higher in Salem, 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

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,075

+23% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$948

$989

+4% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,337

+25% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,778

+39% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$382,400

+143% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$71,900

+40% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$55,310

+18% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

46.0%

55.7%

+9.7 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

31.4%

+3.2 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

21.3 min

22.4 min

+1.1 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

540.6

+78% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

2,878.6

+59% 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

53.0°F

+10.1°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

39.7 in

+14.0 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

16.3

+12% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$20.59

+22% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Memphis, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, 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 Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Salem?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Salem?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Salem 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).