Question 1

Is Jacksonville or Memphis cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $548/month less than in Jacksonville, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,658/mo in Jacksonville versus $1,274/mo in Memphis.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Jacksonville vs Memphis?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $71,500/year before tax in Jacksonville, FL and $60,500/year in Memphis, TN — a difference of about $11,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Jacksonville or Memphis cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,647/month in Jacksonville and $6,533/month in Memphis, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Jacksonville or Memphis?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Memphis costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Jacksonville64	Memphis57
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$3,530
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,647	$6,533
Salary for comfort	$71,500/yr	$60,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,658	$1,274
Median home value	$266,100	$157,100
Median household income	$66,981	$51,211
Unemployment	4.7%	4.7%
Housing score	55	68
Jobs score	26	31
Safety score	65	4
Climate score	100	100
Amenities score	41	47
Population	961.7K	629.1K
Summer high / winter low	91° / 45°	90° / 30°

Jacksonville, FL vs Memphis, TN