Question 1

Is Memphis or San Antonio cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $45/month less than in San Antonio, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,274/mo in Memphis versus $1,426/mo in San Antonio.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Memphis vs San Antonio?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $65,500/year before tax in Memphis, TN and $66,000/year in San Antonio, TX — a difference of about $500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Memphis or San Antonio 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 $8,376/month in Memphis and $8,835/month in San Antonio, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Memphis or San Antonio?

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	Memphis53	San Antonio65
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,783	$3,828
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,376	$8,835
Salary for comfort	$65,500/yr	$66,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,274	$1,426
Median home value	$157,100	$219,700
Median household income	$51,211	$62,917
Unemployment	5.6%	4.7%
Housing score	65	67
Jobs score	14	43
Safety score	4	35
Climate score	100	94
Amenities score	47	54
Population	629.1K	1.5M
Summer high / winter low	92° / 33°	95° / 41°

Memphis, TN vs San Antonio, TX