Median rent is 43% lower in Memphis ($1,181/mo vs $2,082/mo). Buying is cheaper in Memphis, where the median home runs $169,000 versus $713,000. Households earn more in Santa Ana ($93,999 vs $51,736 a year).
City A
Memphis, TN
City B
Santa Ana, CA
How much would you need to earn in Santa Ana, CA to maintain your standard of living from Memphis, TN?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
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
Memphis
Tennessee
Santa Ana
California
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 $2,082/mo in Santa Ana, a 43% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Santa Ana: the median home is $713,000 versus $169,000 in Memphis — 76% 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.
Memphis
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Santa Ana
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Memphis (avg AQI 19.0) but not yet for Santa Ana.
Pick Santa Ana if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,999/yr).
Pick Memphis if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,181/mo median).
Is Memphis cheaper than Santa Ana?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Memphis vs Santa Ana?
Median rent is $1,181/mo in Memphis, TN and $2,082/mo in Santa Ana, CA. Memphis, TN has the lower rent by about 43%.
Which has higher salaries — Memphis or Santa Ana?
Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis, TN and $93,999 in Santa Ana, CA. Santa Ana, CA 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 — Memphis or Santa Ana?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Santa Ana to match my Memphis income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
