Question 1

Is Memphis or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $851/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,274/mo in Memphis versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Memphis vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $60,500/year before tax in Memphis, TN and $86,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $25,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Memphis or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $6,533/month in Memphis and $7,840/month in Philadelphia, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Memphis or Philadelphia?

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	Memphis57	Philadelphia52
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,530	$4,381
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$6,533	$7,840
Salary for comfort	$60,500/yr	$86,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,274	$1,810
Median home value	$157,100	$232,400
Median household income	$51,211	$60,698
Unemployment	4.7%	5.0%
Housing score	68	47
Jobs score	31	49
Safety score	4	4
Climate score	100	100
Amenities score	47	46
Population	629.1K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	90° / 30°	88° / 27°

Memphis, TN vs Philadelphia, PA