City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lexington, KY (92.9) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lexington, KY goes as far as $99,200 in Memphis, TN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,154 a month in Memphis, TN versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Memphis, TN and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +0.8%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: 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
| Lexington, KY | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,236 in Memphis | $100,770 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
71 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/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 Lexington, KY to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Memphis, TN | Real change, Lexington → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $61,510 | $61,984 (+0.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $125,580 | $126,547 (+2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $76,960 | $77,553 (−0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $81,500 | $82,128 (+3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.