🇺🇸 United States · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Memphis? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, Downtown, Midtown or Cooper-YoungUSD 950–1,400 / month
One-bed apartment, East Memphis, Raleigh or across the state lineUSD 750–1,100 / month
MLGW combined utility bill, one-bedUSD 110–200 / month, with July and August the peak — air conditioning runs continuously
Groceries, one personUSD 300–420 / month — remember Tennessee taxes food rather than exempting it
MATA 31-day passAround USD 60 / month; the authority has run fare-free pilot periods recently, so check the current position before buying
Good to know
Population
≈610,000 in the city; ≈1.3 million across the Memphis metro, which spans Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas
Languages
English; Spanish is the largest other language spoken at home
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Time zone
CST (GMT-6); CDT (GMT-5) from mid-March to early November
Power plug
Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz
Climate
Humid subtropical — long hot humid summers, short mild winters with occasional ice storms, and a severe-weather season that peaks in spring and again in late autumn
Driving side
Right
Utilities
Electricity, gas and water all come from MLGW, a city-owned utility — one account and one bill, which is rare in the US
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Memphis checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Memphis
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.