City comparison
Knoxville, TN vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Knoxville, TN (92.6) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Knoxville, TN goes as far as $99,600 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,184 a month in Knoxville, TN and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- Both are in TN, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Knoxville, TN to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +0.4%, purely from prices.
- Knoxville, TN: price level 92.6 (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
| Knoxville, TN | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,579 in Memphis | $100,423 in Knoxville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,184/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,080 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Knoxville, TN and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Knoxville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 82.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 71.9 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 95.1 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Knoxville, TN → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
70 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Knoxville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Knoxville, TN to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Knoxville, TN | Memphis, TN | Real change, Knoxville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Knoxville, TN | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Knoxville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,980 | $61,510 | $61,770 (−0.3%) |
| Software Developers | $121,750 | $125,580 | $126,111 (+3.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,380 | $76,960 | $77,286 (+2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,240 | $81,500 | $81,845 (+6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.