Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Tucson?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 6% higher in Tucson, AZ. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$877

$795

+9% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$891

+6% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,146

+7% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,520

+19% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$242,200

+54% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$54,546

+7% in Tucson, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$47,760

+2% in Tucson, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.6 yr

+0.3 yr in Tucson, AZ

Homeownership

46.0%

51.7%

+5.7 pp in Tucson, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

30.2%

+2.0 pp in Tucson, AZ

Avg Commute

21.3 min

22.2 min

+0.9 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.5

645.8

+74% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,965.8

3,460

+50% 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

70.2°F

+7.1°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

11.6 in

+42.1 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.57/gal

+28% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.6

+3% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.54

$19.69

+27% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Tucson, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / AZ)

5.6%

+1.4 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Memphis vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Tucson?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).