City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Memphis | Philadelphia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,050/mo | $1,250/mo | 16.0% lower in A |
| Median home value | $139,600 | $215,500 | 35.2% lower in A |
| Median household income | $48,090 | $57,537 | 16.4% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 98.7 | 98.9 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 94.8 | 91.5 | 3.7% higher in A |
| Transportation index | 100.5 | 88.3 | 13.9% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 94.8 | 98.8 | 4.1% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Memphis, you'd need $119,044 in Philadelphia to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Memphis, TN is about 16% cheaper overall than Philadelphia, PA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 16% lower in Memphis than in Philadelphia. If you earn $80,000 in Memphis, you'd need about $95,235 in Philadelphia to keep the same standard of living.