Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.1% of gross income.

Memphis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Memphis median rent
$1,280/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Tennessee)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
19.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Memphis's median rent of $1,280 leaves roughly $733/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 33.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Memphis, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (19.1% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,274/mo (19% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,274/mo (19% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Memphis

View full rent data for Memphis, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Memphis, TN?

Median rent in Memphis is $1,280 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Tennessee earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 19.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Memphis?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Tennessee (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,280/mo, which leaves a $733/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Memphis?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Tennessee works roughly 33.1 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,280.

Where is rent cheaper than Memphis for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Gallatin ($1,279/mo), Smyrna ($1,274/mo), Jonesborough ($1,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Tennessee state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Memphis, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.