Compare / Knoxville to Memphis
Knoxville, TN vs Memphis, TN
Simple answer
You'd likely save $174 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 Fair Market Rent. The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap is $174: Knoxville is higher at $1,475 versus $1,301.
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 Knoxville lines up with about $74,684 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.
Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,475
- HUD area
- Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,219
- All-items price parity
- 92.6
- Goods price parity
- 96.2
- Utilities price parity
- 71.9
- Mean commute
- 24.7 min
- Median household income
- $74,184
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.
$74,684
Salary in Memphis that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$74,631
Gross salary in Memphis whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$66,153
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
Knoxville 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)
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
WIC
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
School meals
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
LIHEAP
KnoxvilleMaybe
MemphisMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
Lifeline phone and internet
KnoxvilleLikely eligible
MemphisLikely eligible
SSI
KnoxvilleUnlikely
MemphisUnlikely
| Program | Knoxville | 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 Knoxville
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Knoxville.
- Knoxville and San Francisco · rent gap $2,222
- Knoxville and San Jose · rent gap $1,797
- Knoxville and Boston · rent gap $1,533
- Knoxville and New York · rent gap $1,496
- Knoxville and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,489
- Knoxville and San Diego · rent gap $1,348
- Knoxville and Miami · rent gap $1,089
- Knoxville and Seattle · rent gap $1,074
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.