Memphis vs North Charleston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Memphis
North Charleston
The Verdict
Memphis is 17.6% less expensive than North Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Memphis would need approximately $91,071 in North Charleston to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $91,071 in North Charleston.
Conversely, $75,000 in North Charleston equals $61,765 in Memphis.
Living in Memphis vs North Charleston
Housing Costs
Memphis's housing index of 63 is lower North Charleston's 102, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $347,000. The $192,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,480 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Memphis compared to $1,525/mo in North Charleston, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in Memphis and 101 in North Charleston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in Memphis vs $480/month in North Charleston. Memphis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 88 in Memphis and 120 in North Charleston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Memphis vs $480 in North Charleston. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Memphis and 86 in North Charleston. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $41,228 in Memphis and $61,400 in North Charleston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,081 and $60,196 respectively. North Charleston residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $962/month to housing in Memphis vs $1,433/month in North Charleston. In Memphis, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In North Charleston, median rent of $1,525/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases