Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) vs Memphis: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY and Memphis, TN, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricLouisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KYMemphis, TN
Population629,176630,027
Median household income$63,114$48,090
Median home value$204,800$139,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,014$1,050

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY and Memphis, TN comes down to what you value most. Memphis has the lower median home value, and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) has the lower median rent.

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) or Memphis?
By median home value, Memphis is the cheaper of the two ($139,600 vs $204,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) or Memphis?
Median household income is $63,114 in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) versus $48,090 in Memphis, per the US Census Bureau.

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