Memphis vs Racine
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Memphis
Racine
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 11% cheaper than Racine overall. A $75,000 salary in Memphis is equivalent to $83,929 in Racine.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Memphis (left) vs Racine (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Memphis versus Racine. Differences shown from Memphis perspective.
| Item | Memphis | Racine | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $720/mo | $690/mo | +$30.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,000/mo | $980/mo | +$20.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,330/mo | $-30.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.40 | $2.76 | $-0.36 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.74 | $3.48 | +$0.26 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.05 | $3.05 | $0.00 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.47 | $5.38 | +$0.09 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.29 | $3.08 | +$0.21 |
| Restaurant Meal | $13.90 | $13.00 | +$0.90 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $83,929 in Racine.
Conversely, $75,000 in Racine equals $67,021 in Memphis.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3976 difference is driven by Wisconsin having a higher state income tax rate. Tennessee details → · Wisconsin details →
Reading These Numbers: Memphis (84) vs Racine (94)
Memphis at 84 is 16% below the US average, while Racine at 94 is 6% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Memphis, the composite index of 84 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 63, followed by groceries (93), utilities (88), transportation (98), and healthcare (92). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,000/mo in Memphis and $980/mo in Racine, the annual rent difference is approximately $240.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $1,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $109,000.0 difference in median home prices between Memphis and Racine 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: Memphis vs Racine
Choosing between Memphis and Racine 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 Memphis and Racine 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.