Median rent is 22% lower in Memphis ($1,181/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Memphis, where the median home runs $169,000 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $51,736 a year). Taken together, Memphis is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.9 against 102.5 — about 10% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Memphis is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.9 in Memphis vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Memphis, TN
How much would you need to earn in Memphis, TN to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Memphis, TN
$67,285
You could earn $7,715 less (10% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fort Worth
Texas
Memphis
Tennessee
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Memphis — median rent of $1,181/mo versus $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, a 22% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Fort Worth: the median home is $303,000 versus $169,000 in Memphis — 44% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Memphis
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Memphis (avg AQI 19.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Memphis if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 91.9 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick Memphis if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,181/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Memphis?
Memphis is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.9 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Memphis.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Memphis?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,181/mo in Memphis, TN. Memphis, TN has the lower rent by about 22%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Memphis?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $51,736 in Memphis, TN. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or Memphis?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Memphis to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $89,713 in Memphis, TN (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
