City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greensboro, NC (92.9) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greensboro, NC goes as far as $99,300 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Greensboro, NC than in Memphis, 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 Greensboro, NC to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +0.7%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (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
| Greensboro, NC | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,261 in Memphis | $100,744 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
71 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
66 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 Greensboro, NC to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Memphis, TN | Real change, Greensboro → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $61,510 | $61,968 (+3.7%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $125,580 | $126,515 (+1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $76,960 | $77,533 (−3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $81,500 | $82,107 (−0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.