Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 52% higher in Washington, DC. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,763
+101% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,885
+99% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,949
+82% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$2,249
+76% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$724,600
+361% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$106,287
+108% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$71,060
+52% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
34.9 yr
+0.6 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
46.0%
41.1%
+4.9 pp in Memphis, TN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
63.6%
+35.4 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
21.3 min
30.3 min
+9.0 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.5
936
+63% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,965.8
3,627.1
+48% 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
58.2°F
+4.9°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
39.7 in
+13.9 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Memphis, TN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
25.0
+66% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.54
$18.01
+16% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / DC)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Memphis vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Washington?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Washington?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).