Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Wichita?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 19% higher in Wichita, KS. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$877

$726

+17% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$761

+20% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$976

+9% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,199

+6% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$179,500

+14% in Wichita, KS

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$63,072

+23% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$47,630

+2% in Wichita, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

46.0%

58.4%

+12.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

30.9%

+2.7 pp in Wichita, KS

Avg Commute

21.3 min

18.9 min

+2.4 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

1,238.7

+51% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

5,284.9

+24% 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

57.0°F

+6.1°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

32.6 in

+21.0 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

15.1

+5% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$25.12

+49% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Memphis, TN

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Memphis vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Wichita?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).