Question 1

Is Jacksonville or Memphis cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $429/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 $74,000/year before tax in Jacksonville, FL and $65,500/year in Memphis, TN — a difference of about $8,500. 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. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,565/month in Jacksonville and $8,376/month in Memphis, including county-median childcare.

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	Jacksonville66	Memphis53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,212	$3,783
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,565	$8,376
Salary for comfort	$74,000/yr	$65,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,658	$1,274
Median home value	$266,100	$157,100
Median household income	$66,981	$51,211
Unemployment	5.0%	5.6%
Housing score	52	65
Jobs score	39	14
Safety score	65	4
Climate score	100	100
Amenities score	41	47
Population	961.7K	629.1K
Summer high / winter low	91° / 45°	92° / 33°

Jacksonville, FL vs Memphis, TN