Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 42% higher in West Valley City, UT. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,085
+24% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,191
+26% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,333
+24% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$1,723
+35% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$377,300
+140% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$88,604
+73% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$55,240
+18% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
30.3 yr
+4.0 yr in Memphis, TN
Homeownership
46.0%
71.1%
+25.1 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
15.7%
+12.5 pp in Memphis, TN
Avg Commute
21.3 min
22.2 min
+0.9 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.6
471.8
+81% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,966.3
1,855.5
+73% 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
52.8°F
+10.3°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
16.1 in
+37.6 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.4
+5% in Memphis, TN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.75
$11.84
+40% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Memphis, TN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / UT)
7%
6.1%
+0.9 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Memphis vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or West Valley City?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or West Valley City?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).