Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Memphis, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Memphis, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,434 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,435 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $4,437 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Memphis, TN sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Memphis, TN by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$19.35 $19.35

56.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$75.2 $75.2

89.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$10.12 $10.12

25.00%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.10 $5.10

13.92%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.51 $2.51

29.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.11 $6.11

34.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.88 $7.88

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.93 $0.93

64.52%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.76 $2.76

90.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.54 $4.54

83.70%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.13 $4.13

75.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$11.37 $11.37

52.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.08 $11.08

46.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.58 $15.58

27.21%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.35 $6.35

19.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.27 $5.27

10.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.90 $4.90

30.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.12 $5.12

-24.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.51 $3.51

15.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.34 $2.34

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.47 $2.47

-0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$7.79 $7.79

147.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.26 $14.26

39.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.69 $1.69

76.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.93 $1.93

93.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.24 $1.24

129.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$12.53 $12.53

971.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.05 $2.05

149.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.36 $1.36

55.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$20.39 $20.39

107.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.82 $0.82

18.29%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$32.9K $32.9K

5.51%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$27.0K $27.0K

2.93%

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

$181 $181

$212 $212

-14.31%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$59.9 $59.9

0.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$68.3 $68.3

-8.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$38.34 $38.34

273.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$17.69 $17.69

268.91%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.78 $12.78

56.34%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,591 $1,591

102.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

113.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$39.46 $39.46

71.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$32.08 $32.08

48.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$73.6 $73.6

51.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$138 $138

22.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,197 $1,197

241.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,154 $1,154

133.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$1,586 $1,586

432.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,637 $1,637

213.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$1,757 $1,757

934.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$1,380 $1,380

356.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$3,642 $3,642

52.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.53

-1.38%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Memphis, TN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,197 in Memphis, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $75.0 in Memphis, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $397 – making Memphis, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY, $2,434 in Memphis, TN – roughly 85% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,651 in Memphis, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Memphis, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 971% less in Memphis, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,216 per month in New York, NY and $1,591 in Memphis, TN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Memphis, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,434, than in New York, NY at $4,503. In Memphis, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,434 in Memphis, TN to $4,503 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Memphis, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.