Dallas is about 11% less expensive than Memphis overall - $100,000 in Memphis is worth about $89,416 in Dallas.
Housing costs separate Dallas and Memphis more than any other category. The median home in Dallas runs $295,300 versus $157,100 in Memphis, a 47% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Dallas costs $1,403/month versus $1,123/month in Memphis. But income matters too: the median household in Dallas earns $67,760 and in Memphis earns $51,211. That means rent swallows about 24.8% of median income in Dallas and 26.3% in Memphis.
Scale is another factor. Dallas is a much larger metro (1,299,553 people) compared to Memphis (629,063), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Dallas vs Memphis
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Dallas (rent) | Memphis (rent) | Dallas (own) | Memphis (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,403 | $1,123 | $1,715 | $912 |
| Transportation | $955 | $645 | $955 | $645 |
| Food | $751 | $507 | $751 | $507 |
| Healthcare | $472 | $319 | $472 | $319 |
| Other | $1,676 | $1,133 | $1,676 | $1,133 |
| Total | $5,257 | $3,727 | $5,569 | $3,517 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Dallas is roughly $16,836 per year in rent alone - $3,360 more than in Memphis. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $89,416 in Dallas to match $100,000 in Memphis.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $29,530 in Dallas versus $15,710 in Memphis. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $803. Over five years, that’s $48,156 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Memphis is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Memphis has the purchasing power of about $134,204 in Dallas. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Dallas earns roughly $101,640 and in Memphis earns $76,816. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Dallas, that answer is harder.
Dallas vs Memphis: the numbers
| Metric | Dallas | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 103 | 92 | -11% |
| Median rent | $1,403 | $1,123 | -20% |
| Median home value | $295,300 | $157,100 | -47% |
| Median household income | $67,760 | $51,211 | -24% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Dallas has the same buying power as about $89,416 in Memphis. Going the other way, $100,000 in Memphis is like $111,837 in Dallas.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Dallas and Memphis.
Job market snapshot: Dallas vs Memphis
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Dallas | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $136,000 | $132,720 | -2% |
| Software Developer | $129,490 | $113,500 | -12% |
| Data Scientist | $108,870 | $101,120 | -7% |
| Physical Therapist | $107,030 | $100,220 | -6% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,490 | $99,990 | +1% |
Moving from Dallas to Memphis: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Dallas and Memphis are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Memphis.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.