Cost of Living: Memphis, TN vs Chattanooga, TN

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,516/mo in Memphis, TN versus $4,516/mo in Chattanooga, TN. In the model, rent is about 16.37% of gross in Memphis, TN versus 16.83% in Chattanooga, TN, so Memphis, TN tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Memphis, TN
$4,516/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Chattanooga, TN
$4,516/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Memphis, TN
16.37%
COLI tier: lower-cost
Rent share (1BR) in Chattanooga, TN
16.83%
COLI tier: lower-cost

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Memphis, TN and Chattanooga, TN.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Memphis, TN
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Memphis, TN
  • Lower home prices: Memphis, TN
  • Higher median household income: Chattanooga, TN

Cost of Living Index

Memphis, TN: 82.5 (U.S. = 100) · Chattanooga, TN: 88.6 (U.S. = 100)

Memphis, TN has a lower cost-of-living index than Chattanooga, TN, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Memphis, TN: $1,067/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Chattanooga, TN: $1,098/mo

Median rent in Chattanooga, TN is $31/mo higher than in Memphis, TN.

Median Home Price

Memphis, TN: $157,100 · Chattanooga, TN: $259,200

Median home price in Chattanooga, TN is $102,100 higher than in Memphis, TN.

Median Household Income

Memphis, TN: $51,211 · Chattanooga, TN: $61,028

Chattanooga, TN has a higher median household income than Memphis, TN by $9,817.

Memphis, TN overview · Chattanooga, TN overview · Popular comparisons