Cost of Living: Memphis, TN vs Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN. In the model, rent is about 16.37% of gross in Memphis, TN versus 16.27% in Knoxville, TN, so Knoxville, TN tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Memphis, TN
$4,516/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Knoxville, TN
$4,516/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Memphis, TN
16.37%
COLI tier: lower-cost
Rent share (1BR) in Knoxville, TN
16.27%
COLI tier: mid-range

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

At a glance

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

Cost of Living Index

Memphis, TN: 82.5 (U.S. = 100) · Knoxville, TN: 92.2 (U.S. = 100)

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

Median Rent

Memphis, TN: $1,067/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Knoxville, TN: $1,061/mo

Median rent in Memphis, TN is $6/mo higher than in Knoxville, TN.

Median Home Price

Memphis, TN: $157,100 · Knoxville, TN: $214,000

Median home price in Knoxville, TN is $56,900 higher than in Memphis, TN.

Median Household Income

Memphis, TN: $51,211 · Knoxville, TN: $50,994

Memphis, TN has a higher median household income than Knoxville, TN by $217.

Memphis, TN overview · Knoxville, TN overview · Popular comparisons