Memphis vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Memphis
Surprise
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 18% cheaper than Surprise overall. A $75,000 salary in Memphis is equivalent to $91,071 in Surprise.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Memphis (left) vs Surprise (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Memphis versus Surprise. Differences shown from Memphis perspective.
| Item | Memphis | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $720/mo | $640/mo | +$80.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,000/mo | $960/mo | +$40.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,330/mo | $-30.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.40 | $3.00 | $-0.60 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.74 | $3.47 | +$0.27 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.05 | $2.77 | +$0.28 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.47 | $5.54 | $-0.07 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.29 | $3.55 | $-0.26 |
| Restaurant Meal | $13.90 | $15.22 | $-1.32 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $91,071 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $61,765 in Memphis.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1876 difference is driven by Arizona having a higher state income tax rate. Tennessee details → · Arizona details →
Reading These Numbers: Memphis (84) vs Surprise (102)
Memphis at 84 is 16% below the US average, while Surprise at 102 is 2% above 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 $960/mo in Surprise, the annual rent difference is approximately $480.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $2,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $143,000.0 difference in median home prices between Memphis and Surprise 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 Surprise
Choosing between Memphis and Surprise 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.
Long-term affordability in Memphis versus Surprise depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.