City comparison
Gainesville, FL vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Gainesville, FL are 4.9% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $104,900 in Gainesville, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,246 a month in Gainesville, FL versus $1,154 in Memphis, TN. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Gainesville, FL and 17% in Memphis, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in TN.
- 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 Gainesville, FL to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +4.9%, purely from prices.
- Gainesville, FL: price level 96.7 (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
| Gainesville, FL | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.7 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,292 in Memphis | $104,940 in Gainesville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,246/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,020 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Gainesville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Gainesville, FL and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Gainesville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.0 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 96.7 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Gainesville, FL → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
84 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Gainesville, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
54 Fair 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 Gainesville, FL to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Gainesville, FL | Memphis, TN | Real change, Gainesville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Gainesville, FL | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Gainesville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $56,430 | $61,510 | $64,549 (+14.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,950 | $125,580 | $131,784 (+7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,820 | $76,960 | $80,762 (+6.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,870 | $81,500 | $85,526 (+4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.