Wichita Falls Memphis

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 89.5 → 92.2
Rent Delta: +$138/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $8K higher median salary
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $138/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate

Moving from Wichita Falls to Memphis shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 89.5 to 92.2 (100 = US average), so a Wichita Falls salary needs to be multiplied by 1.03 to hold the same purchasing power in Memphis. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,136/month in Wichita Falls to $1,274/month in Memphis - a higher monthly bill of $138, or $1,656/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $56,840 in Wichita Falls versus $65,102 in Memphis - a raw gap of $8,262 higher. The Memphis labor market has 597,090 tracked jobs against 49,490 in Wichita Falls, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Wichita Falls and Memphis are 395 and 602 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.7:1 at origin versus 15.3:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,566/year in Wichita Falls versus $7,860/year in Memphis. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Wichita Falls
Memphis
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 89.5
RPP 92.2
Wichita Falls
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,136/mo
$1,274/mo
Wichita Falls
💼 Wages
$56,840
$65,102
Memphis
🔒 Crime
395 per 100K
602 per 100K
Wichita Falls
🎓 Schools
14.7:1
15.3:1
Wichita Falls
👶 Childcare
$7,566/yr
$7,860/yr
Wichita Falls
🌿 Environment
33822 violations
1091 violations
Memphis

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Wichita Falls to see what you'd need to earn in Memphis to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Memphis
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Memphis more expensive than Wichita Falls?
Memphis has an RPP of 92.2 compared to Wichita Falls's 89.5 (100 = national average). Memphis is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Memphis is $1,274/mo vs $1,136/mo in Wichita Falls.
What are salaries like in Memphis compared to Wichita Falls?
The median salary in Memphis is $65,102 compared to $56,840 in Wichita Falls. That's a +$8,262 difference.
Is Memphis safer than Wichita Falls?
The violent crime rate near Memphis is 602 per 100K vs 395 per 100K near Wichita Falls (state-level data). Wichita Falls has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Memphis to match my Wichita Falls salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Wichita Falls salary by 1.03. For example, a $75,000 salary in Wichita Falls would need to be $77,234 in Memphis. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)