Ithaca vs Memphis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Ithaca
Memphis
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 33% cheaper than Ithaca overall. A $75,000 salary in Ithaca is equivalent to $50,400 in Memphis.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Ithaca (left) vs Memphis (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Ithaca versus Memphis. Differences shown from Ithaca perspective.
| Item | Ithaca | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,210/mo | $720/mo | +$490.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,590/mo | $1,000/mo | +$590.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,970/mo | $1,300/mo | +$670.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.30 | $2.40 | +$0.90 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.45 | $3.74 | +$0.71 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.76 | $3.05 | +$0.71 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.66 | $5.47 | +$1.19 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.61 | $3.29 | +$0.32 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.81 | $13.90 | +$6.91 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $50,400 in Memphis.
Conversely, $75,000 in Memphis equals $111,607 in Ithaca.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $4501 difference is driven by New York having a higher state income tax rate. New York details → · Tennessee details →
Reading These Numbers: Ithaca (125) vs Memphis (84)
Ithaca at 125 is 25% above the US average, while Memphis at 84 is 16% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Ithaca, the composite index of 125 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 119, followed by groceries (116), utilities (124), transportation (118), and healthcare (120). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,590/mo in Ithaca and $1,000/mo in Memphis, the annual rent difference is approximately $7,080.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $35,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $236,000.0 difference in median home prices between Ithaca and Memphis translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Ithaca vs Memphis
Choosing between Ithaca and Memphis involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Ithaca and Memphis reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.