Juneau vs Memphis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Juneau
Memphis
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 29% cheaper than Juneau overall. A $75,000 salary in Juneau is equivalent to $52,941 in Memphis.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Juneau (left) vs Memphis (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Juneau versus Memphis. Differences shown from Juneau perspective.
| Item | Juneau | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,290/mo | $720/mo | +$570.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,770/mo | $1,000/mo | +$770.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,300/mo | $1,300/mo | +$1000.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.49 | $2.40 | +$1.09 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.45 | $3.74 | +$0.71 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.99 | $3.05 | +$0.94 |
| Coffee (latte) | $7.28 | $5.47 | +$1.81 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.72 | $3.29 | +$0.43 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.85 | $13.90 | +$3.95 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $52,941 in Memphis.
Conversely, $75,000 in Memphis equals $106,250 in Juneau.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Alaska details → · Tennessee details →
Reading These Numbers: Juneau (119) vs Memphis (84)
Juneau at 119 is 19% 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 Juneau, the composite index of 119 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 126, followed by groceries (123), utilities (124), transportation (118), and healthcare (116). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,770/mo in Juneau and $1,000/mo in Memphis, the annual rent difference is approximately $9,240.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $46,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $270,000.0 difference in median home prices between Juneau 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: Juneau vs Memphis
Choosing between Juneau 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.
When weighing Juneau against Memphis, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.