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: $2,386 in Memphis, TN versus $1,472 in Hempstead, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,536 in Memphis, TN versus $2,296 in Hempstead, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,687 in Memphis, TN versus $3,120 in Hempstead, NY.

Living in Memphis, TN is roughly 62% more expensive than in Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Memphis, TN 74% above, Hempstead, NY 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 $18.28

$20.18 $20.18

-9.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$75.2 $75.2

0.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.76 $11.76

$12.58 $12.58

-6.52%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.38 $5.38

2.79%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$3.11 $3.11

-20.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.21 $2.21

-12.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.21 $7.21

$6.06 $6.06

18.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.05 $8.05

-2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.26 $1.26

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.62 $1.62

87.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.34 $2.34

73.93%

Eggs

$3.36 $3.36

$3.63 $3.63

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.48 $9.48

17.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.07 $11.07

$12.28 $12.28

-9.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.36 $18.36

$12.15 $12.15

51.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.84 $2.84

57.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.62 $1.62

4.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.83 $1.83

168.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.04 $5.04

-5.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.71 $2.71

20.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.67 $2.67

32.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.41 $2.41

7.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.41 $2.41

-2.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.28 $8.28

$13.09 $13.09

-36.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 $13.40

$15.02 $15.02

-10.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.39 $2.39

-25.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$4.48 $4.48

-63.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.86 $2.86

-65.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.07 $49.07

$132 $132

-62.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.67 $2.67

-26.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.60 $0.60

125.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.84 $19.84

$24.17 $24.17

-17.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.03 $1.03

-2.91%

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

$37.6K $37.6K

$36.0K $36.0K

4.48%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.93%

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

$169 $169

$212 $212

-20.15%

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

$84.7 $84.7

$64.0 $64.0

32.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.2 $74.2

$67.9 $67.9

9.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.39 $32.39

$110 $110

-70.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.12 $16.12

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$14.97 $14.97

-1.27%

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

$1,706 $1,706

$2,188 $2,188

-22.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K $27.4K

$41.7K $41.7K

-34.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.74 $44.74

$49.55 $49.55

-9.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.61 $31.61

$48.06 $48.06

-34.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 $75.9

$99.2 $99.2

-23.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,383 $1,383

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 $1,139

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,974 $1,974

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 $1,819

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 $1,746

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,337 $1,337

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,490 $3,490

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

6.16

-1.62%

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

Last update for Memphis, TN: August 31, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $75.0 in Memphis, TN vs $75.0 in Hempstead, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $338, 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 62% in total monthly costs ($2,386 vs $1,472 including rent). Hempstead, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,579 in Memphis, TN and $2,207 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Memphis, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

At $1,472 in Hempstead, NY versus $2,386 in Memphis, TN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hempstead, NY but tight or insufficient in Memphis, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Hempstead, NY 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 Hempstead, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Memphis, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.