Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Hempstead, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Hempstead, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,434 in Memphis, TN versus $2,587 in Hempstead, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,435 in Memphis, TN versus $3,739 in Hempstead, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,437 in Memphis, TN versus $4,891 in Hempstead, NY.

Living in Memphis, TN costs roughly 6% less than in Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Memphis, TN 82% above, Hempstead, NY 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.35 $19.35

$17.14 $17.14

12.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$76.2 $76.2

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$12.91 $12.91

-21.61%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$4.90 $4.90

4.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.48 $2.48

1.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.17 $2.17

-10.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$7.03 $7.03

-13.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.02 $8.02

-1.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.14 $1.14

-18.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.60 $1.60

72.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.41 $2.41

88.38%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$3.50 $3.50

18.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.55 $9.55

19.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.08 $11.08

$10.10 $10.10

9.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

$12.33 $12.33

26.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$2.95 $2.95

115.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.62 $1.62

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$1.76 $1.76

199.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.72 $4.72

3.81%

Potato (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.43 $4.43

15.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.63 $2.63

33.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.46 $2.46

-4.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.18 $2.18

13.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.79 $7.79

$13.71 $13.71

-43.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 $14.26

$14.21 $14.21

0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.84 $1.84

-8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.67 $3.67

-47.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.95 $1.95

-36.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.53 $12.53

$133 $133

-90.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$6.06 $6.06

-66.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.42 $1.42

-4.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.39 $20.39

$28.77 $28.77

-29.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.95 $0.95

-13.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.0K $29.0K

13.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

3.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$212 $212

$145 $145

46.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$44.54 $44.54

34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$55.6 $55.6

22.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.34 $38.34

$42.98 $42.98

-10.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.69 $17.69

Cinema Ticket

$12.78 $12.78

$12.65 $12.65

1.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,378 $1,378

15.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

15.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.46 $39.46

$36.62 $36.62

7.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.08 $32.08

$24.45 $24.45

31.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 $73.6

$87.0 $87.0

-15.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$70.6 $70.6

94.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 $1,197

$1,599 $1,599

-25.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 $1,154

$1,379 $1,379

-16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 $1,586

$2,635 $2,635

-39.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$2,263 $2,263

-27.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,380 $1,380

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,642 $3,642

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.57

-0.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Memphis, TN: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,197 in Memphis, TN and $1,599 in Hempstead, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Memphis, TN vs $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $322, with Hempstead, NY cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Memphis, TN vs Hempstead, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Memphis, TN and Hempstead, NY differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,434 vs $2,587 including rent). Memphis, TN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,651 in Memphis, TN and $3,880 in Hempstead, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,197 in Memphis, TN versus $1,599 in Hempstead, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hempstead, NY pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Memphis, TN – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,434 in Memphis, TN versus $2,587 in Hempstead, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Memphis, TN but tight or insufficient in Hempstead, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Memphis, TN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Memphis, TN and Hempstead, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Memphis, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Hempstead, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.