City comparison
Memphis, TN vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 4.2% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $104,200 in Springfield, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,154 in Memphis, TN. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 17% in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Memphis, TN to Springfield, MA ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by +4.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.3% in real buying power.
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Memphis, TN | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,211 in Springfield | $95,959 in Memphis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,154/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,890 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Memphis, TN-MS-AR and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Memphis | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.8 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 74.1 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 95.4 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Memphis, TN → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
56 Fair offer
Springfield, MA → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Memphis, TN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Memphis, TN to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Memphis, TN | Springfield, MA | Real change, Memphis → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +8.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +8.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +8.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +8.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +8.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Memphis, TN | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Memphis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,510 | $79,640 | $76,422 (+24.2%) |
| Software Developers | $125,580 | $127,740 | $122,578 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,960 | $92,010 | $88,292 (+14.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,500 | $98,410 | $94,433 (+15.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.