City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Huntsville, AL (93.1) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Huntsville, AL goes as far as $99,000 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,136 a month in Huntsville, AL and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,735 a year higher in Huntsville, AL than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Huntsville, AL to Memphis, TN ($110,847 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntsville, AL | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,041 in Memphis | $100,969 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,735/yr.
72 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Huntsville, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,735/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Memphis, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Memphis, TN | Real change, Huntsville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $61,722 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $74,678 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $89,508 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $106,437 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $125,776 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $61,510 | $62,106 (−0.2%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $125,580 | $126,797 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $76,960 | $77,706 (−1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $81,500 | $82,290 (+6.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.