Compare / Chattanooga to Memphis
Chattanooga, TN vs Memphis, TN
Simple answer
You'd likely save $39 a month in Memphis.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is Census rent. Census median gross rent differs by $65, with Memphis higher.
Tennessee has no tax on wages. Tennessee has no tax on wages. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in Tennessee. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in Tennessee.
Both metros are in Tennessee, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Chattanooga lines up with about $75,586 in Memphis on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN-GA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,340
- HUD area
- Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,265
- All-items price parity
- 91.5
- Goods price parity
- 96.0
- Utilities price parity
- 74.2
- Mean commute
- 24.5 min
- Median household income
- $75,076
Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,301
- HUD area
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,330
- All-items price parity
- 92.2
- Goods price parity
- 96.2
- Utilities price parity
- 74.1
- Mean commute
- 24.4 min
- Median household income
- $68,124
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$75,586
Salary in Memphis that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$75,684
Gross salary in Memphis whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$72,817
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | Tennessee | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | No wage tax | No wage tax |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.45% | 0.45% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $1,790 a year in Tennessee and $1,790 in Tennessee. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in Tennessee
Chattanooga and Memphis are in Tennessee. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
WIC
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
School meals
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
LIHEAP
ChattanoogaMaybe
MemphisMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Lifeline phone and internet
ChattanoogaLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
SSI
ChattanoogaUnlikely
MemphisUnlikely
| Program | Chattanooga | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Chattanooga
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Chattanooga.
- Chattanooga and San Francisco · rent gap $2,357
- Chattanooga and San Jose · rent gap $1,932
- Chattanooga and Boston · rent gap $1,668
- Chattanooga and New York · rent gap $1,631
- Chattanooga and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,624
- Chattanooga and San Diego · rent gap $1,483
- Chattanooga and Miami · rent gap $1,224
- Chattanooga and Seattle · rent gap $1,209
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.