The short answer for 2026, based on Tennessee's cost of living adjusted for Memphis housing, plus what people actually earn.
The typical Memphis household earns about $44,000, which is 11% below the $49,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here. A median local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
| Lifestyle | Salary needed |
|---|---|
| Modest (single, essentials covered) | $33,000 |
| Comfortable (average-state lifestyle) | $49,500 |
| Very comfortable (room to save) | $66,000 |
| Median rent in Memphis | $965/mo |
Figures scale each benchmark by an estimated Memphis cost index: Tennessee's BLISS score (0.85) adjusted for Memphis's median home price ($113,700) versus the statewide median ($322,000). Housing drives most city-to-city differences; other spending uses the state average. Estimates, not advice. Actual needs vary by neighborhood and household size.
A salary is not what you keep. See your actual paycheck after Tennessee and federal taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›About $49,500 a year. That matches the lifestyle $75,000 buys in an average U.S. state, using Tennessee's BLISS cost score adjusted for Memphis housing prices. A modest single-person budget is closer to $33,000, and $66,000 is very comfortable with room to save.
About $44,000 a year. That is 11% below the $49,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here, so a typical local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
Memphis's estimated cost of living is 34% below the U.S. average. The typical Memphis home runs $113,700, which is 65% below Tennessee's statewide median, and Tennessee overall ranks #10 of 50 for affordability (#1 = cheapest).