Renting in Memphis
Memphis rent runs genuinely well below the national average -- Zumper cited an overall average of $1,285/month as of June 2026, 34% below the national average -- though 1-bedroom-specific figures varied by source, from $885 (Zillow) to $1,205 (Rent.com), a real, disclosed spread rather than one settled number.
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Learn moreRent Figures: Genuinely Affordable, With a Real Source Spread
Zumper cited an overall average rent of $1,285/month in Memphis as of June 2026 (up 1% month-over-month but down 4.87% year-over-year), describing that figure as 34% below the national average -- among the more affordable major-metro rental markets covered in this project's build. Specifically for 1-bedroom units, sources disagreed: Rent.com cited $1,205/month, while Zillow's rental-market-trends page cited a notably lower $885/month -- likely reflecting different unit-mix assumptions or neighborhood-boundary definitions rather than one source being simply wrong. Treat the roughly $885-$1,205 range as reflecting real methodological variance.
How Memphis Compares Nationally and to Nashville
Memphis's rent running 34% below the national average (per Zumper) is a genuinely large discount, and stands in real contrast to Nashville's rent levels in this same build -- Memphis is a substantially cheaper rental market than its larger in-state peer, consistent with the broader affordability gap already disclosed on the housing-market and cost-of-living topic pages.
Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law: Security Deposits
Tennessee law places no cap on the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit, though the amount should be specified in the rental agreement. Deposits must be returned within 30 days of the end of tenancy if no deductions are made, or within 60 days if deductions are made, with the landlord required to provide a written, itemized notice of any deductions within that window.
Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law: Notice and Eviction
For nonpayment of rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, or a lease violation, a Tennessee landlord can issue a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Quit; if the tenant doesn't remedy the issue within 14 days, the tenancy can be terminated. For a repeat violation of the same lease term within six months of an earlier notice, a landlord can issue a 7-day unconditional notice to quit instead. In all cases, a landlord must obtain a court order through General Sessions Court before physically removing a tenant -- self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities without a court order) is not permitted.
Neighborhood Variance Is Real
As with home prices, rent varies substantially by neighborhood -- East Memphis and the Cordova area are generally described as pricier submarkets, while other parts of the city run below the citywide average cited above. Specific, independently verified per-neighborhood rent figures were not confirmed this pass; see the best-areas topic page for what was sourced qualitatively.
Key takeaways
- Zumper cited an overall average Memphis rent of $1,285/month as of June 2026, 34% below the national average -- a genuinely affordable major-metro rental market.
- 1-bedroom-specific figures varied by source: $885/month (Zillow) to $1,205/month (Rent.com) -- a real, disclosed spread rather than one settled number, likely reflecting different unit-mix methodology.
- Memphis rent runs substantially below Nashville's in this build's data, consistent with the broader affordability gap disclosed on the housing-market and cost-of-living topic pages.
- Tennessee places no cap on security deposits; deposits must be returned within 30 days (no deductions) or 60 days (with an itemized deduction notice).
- Eviction requires a 14-day notice to cure or quit (7 days for a repeat violation) and a General Sessions Court order -- landlords cannot remove a tenant without going through the court process.
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