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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Data: HUD rent estimates, BLS cost of living

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You'd spend $349/month more in Louisville, KY

$150.0K in your current city equals $154.2K in Louisville, KY

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from Memphis, TN-MS-AR area
Overall Cost
โ†‘ 4.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$349
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.2K
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Memphis, TN

Population:633K
Cost Index:
100
100 = national average
Median Home:$129K

Louisville, KY

Population:629K
Cost Index:
105
(5% above avg)
Median Home:$204K

Memphis, TN

The Volunteer State

633K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 633K residents.

๐Ÿ’ก Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Louisville, KY

The Bluegrass State

629K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 629K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Memphis, TN vs Louisville, KY

Housing
โ†‘ 15.5%
Memphis, TN
$1,845
Louisville, KY
$2,131
Difference
$286
more
Other
โ†“ 5.0%
Memphis, TN
$1,674
Louisville, KY
$1,590
Difference
$83.70
less
Transportation
โ†‘ 5.5%
Memphis, TN
$1,243
Louisville, KY
$1,311
Difference
$68.30
more
All Utilities
โ†“ 12.4%
Memphis, TN
$530
Louisville, KY
$464
Difference
$65.57
less
Healthcare
โ†‘ 7.1%
Memphis, TN
$527
Louisville, KY
$564
Difference
$37.17
more
Groceries
โ†‘ 2.1%
Memphis, TN
$939
Louisville, KY
$959
Difference
$19.99
more

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

Louisville, KY: Louisville Occupational Tax$4,275/yr (2.9%)

Memphis, TN has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,035
To$900
โ†“ $135
1 Bed
From$1,125
To$970
โ†“ $155
2 Bed
From$1,245
To$1,180
โ†“ $65.00
3 Bed
From$1,645
To$1,510
โ†“ $135
Memphis, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $940โ€“$1,730/mo

Louisville, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $890โ€“$1,490/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,758
Monthly in Memphis, TN
$7,020
Monthly in Louisville, KY
$262
Difference

Home Values

Memphis
Louisville
$129K
Median Value
$204K
โ†“ -2.8%
YoY Change
โ†‘ +3.2%
โ†‘ +25.1%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +31.2%
$58K - $408K
Price Range
$88K - $467K

Homes in Louisville are 58% more expensive than Memphis

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†“ $7.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$625
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.0%
Rate difference

Memphis, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Louisville, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Memphis, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

Louisville, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Memphis
Louisville
55 Moderate
Air Quality
50 Good
34.4%
Good Air Days
50.8%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐Ÿซจ
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.9ยฐF
54 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
37 days
โ–ฒ+2.8ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.9ยฐF
54 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
37 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Tennessee and Kentucky on TaxTakeHome.com

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