City comparison
Clarksville, TN vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Memphis, TN are 1.4% higher than in Clarksville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Clarksville, TN would need about $101,400 in Memphis, TN to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,154 a month in Memphis, TN versus $1,094 in Clarksville, TN. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Memphis, TN and 17% in Clarksville, TN.
- Both are in TN, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by −1.3%, purely from prices.
- Clarksville, TN: price level 90.9 (much cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Clarksville, TN | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,355 in Memphis | $98,663 in Clarksville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,094/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,860 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Clarksville, TN-KY and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Clarksville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 72.5 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 95.5 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 90.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Clarksville, TN → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Clarksville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Clarksville, TN | Memphis, TN | Real change, Clarksville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Clarksville, TN | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Clarksville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,760 | $61,510 | $60,688 (+1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $96,650 | $125,580 | $123,902 (+28.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,760 | $76,960 | $75,931 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,450 | $81,500 | $80,411 (+1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.