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: $2,415 in Memphis, TN versus $2,536 in Hempstead, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,417 in Memphis, TN versus $3,731 in Hempstead, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,419 in Memphis, TN versus $4,927 in Hempstead, NY.

Living in Memphis, TN costs roughly 5% less than in Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Memphis, TN 81% above, Hempstead, NY 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$16.76 $16.76

14.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$74.4 $74.4

1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$13.11 $13.11

-23.95%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$4.96 $4.96

3.02%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.41 $2.41

6.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.18 $2.18

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$7.15 $7.15

-18.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$7.93 $7.93

-0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.15 $1.15

-18.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.62 $1.62

69.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.38 $2.38

89.08%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$3.61 $3.61

16.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$9.79 $9.79

11.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 $11.00

$10.20 $10.20

7.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$12.14 $12.14

27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$2.87 $2.87

119.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.62 $1.62

-2.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$1.82 $1.82

199.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.72 $4.72

2.97%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.46 $4.46

10.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.61 $2.61

28.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.38 $2.38

-1.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 $7.94

$13.41 $13.41

-40.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$14.90 $14.90

-9.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.86 $1.86

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.67 $3.67

-47.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.96 $1.96

-36.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 $12.67

$129 $129

-90.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$6.10 $6.10

-66.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.36 $1.36

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.81 $19.81

$29.22 $29.22

-32.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.89 $0.89

-8.99%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$29.9K $29.9K

11.06%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

5.95%

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

$215 $215

$147 $147

45.66%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$43.89 $43.89

32.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$56.2 $56.2

19.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 $37.32

$43.79 $43.79

-14.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 $17.71

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 $12.63

$12.78 $12.78

-1.17%

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

$1,582 $1,582

$1,402 $1,402

12.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

16.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.22 $39.22

$37.35 $37.35

5.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 $32.45

$23.58 $23.58

37.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$88.7 $88.7

-15.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$70.9 $70.9

98.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$1,593 $1,593

-24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 $1,115

$1,346 $1,346

-17.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$2,642 $2,642

-41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$2,220 $2,220

-27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,349 $1,349

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,578 $3,578

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,207 in Memphis, TN and $1,593 in Hempstead, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Memphis, TN vs $74.0 in Hempstead, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $325 per month, with Hempstead, NY cheaper across the board.

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 5% in total monthly costs ($2,415 vs $2,536 including rent). Memphis, TN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,622 in Memphis, TN and $3,804 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: $1,207 in Memphis, TN versus $1,593 in Hempstead, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hempstead, NY pay roughly 21% 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 $76.0 versus $74.0 in Hempstead, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,415 in Memphis, TN versus $2,536 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 5% less than in Hempstead, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.