Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.7% of gross income.

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

Memphis median rent
$1,280/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Tennessee)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
16.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Memphis's median rent of $1,280 leaves roughly $1,013/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 29 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (16.7% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,274/mo (16.7% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,274/mo (16.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Memphis

View full rent data for Memphis, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Memphis, TN?

Median rent in Memphis is $1,280 a month. A typical physical therapist in Tennessee earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 16.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Memphis?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Tennessee (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,280/mo, which leaves a $1,013/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Memphis?

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Tennessee works roughly 29 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,280.

Where is rent cheaper than Memphis for a physical therapist?

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 physical therapist 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.