Memphis vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison
Memphis
To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:
$117,223
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
To match your lifestyle in Memphis, you'd need:
$42,888
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $8,436 more per year in Memphis compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 55% more. The cost of living in Memphis is 23% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Memphis the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Memphis feels like earning $117,223 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($15,269 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memphis or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 77.3 (national average = 100).
What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Memphis?
You would need to earn approximately $117,223 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Memphis, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Memphis vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $15,288 in Memphis and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 55% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.