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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
6 of 6 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 6 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
#1 Ranked: Memphis — cost index 86, rent $1,234/mo, income $51,211
6 of 6 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
6 of 6 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | $1,234 | 20% | 86 | Details |
| 2 | Clarksville | $1,376 | 22% | 96 | Details |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $1,499 | 24% | 98 | Details |
| 4 | Murfreesboro | $1,683 | 27% | 106 | Details |
| 5 | Knoxville | $1,708 | 27% | 104 | Details |
| 6 | Nashville | $1,772 | 28% | 108 | Details |
6 of 6 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 6 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 6 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 6 cities in Tennessee using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Memphis comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The #1 spot goes to Memphis, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,234/month — for better or worse — — saving renters $7,932 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 66, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 89. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. Tennessee — no income tax, Nashville boom, and Memphis blues. The 6 cities we track here average a cost index of 100 and median income of $63,576. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,545/month, which is $350 less than the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
618,639 residents · Tennessee
The #1 spot goes to Memphis, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,234/month — saving renters $7,932 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 66, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 89. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone. The math checks out.
180,716 residents · Tennessee
A closer look at Clarksville: the cost index of 96 breaks down to a Utilities index of 89 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,376/month — 27% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,786, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
187,030 residents · Tennessee
Chattanooga is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,499/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 98. Income sits at $61,028. Fairly typical for a city this size.
165,430 residents · Tennessee
Why Murfreesboro ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 106 on the cost index, residents save roughly 6% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,683/month while the median household pulls in $76,241/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 98, though Housing (116) lags behind. Home prices average $421,928 — $45,442 below the national median.
198,162 residents · Tennessee
Dive into Knoxville's numbers: cost index 104 (8 points below national average), rent $1,708/month, income $50,994, and a home price of $363,688. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 96, while Housing runs 110. With 198,162 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Memphis | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
2Clarksville | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
3Chattanooga | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
4Murfreesboro | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
5Knoxville | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
6Nashville | 0% | 9.55% | 0.56% | $57,710 |
Memphis ranks #1 in Tennessee for this analysis with a cost index of 86 and median income of $51,211.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Memphis, rent would consume about 20% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Memphis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 86 and rent of $1,234/mo, while Nashville (ranked #6) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,772/mo — a 22-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Memphis is $1,234/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $661 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $75K in Memphis is approximately $57,710/year ($4,809/month). After median rent of $1,234/month, you'd have roughly $42,902/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Memphis is $142,870, which is 2.8× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Tennessee has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.55%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.