Memphis, TN vs Nashville, TN: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Memphis, TN is the higher-tax metro at 9.75%, versus 9.25% in Nashville, TN. The 0.5% gap works out to $0.50 on a $100 purchase, $5.00 on $1,000 and $125.00 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.5%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $5.00Paid in Memphis
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $125.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Memphis, TN
Shelby County
9.75%
Combined rate · ranked #8 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Shelby County | 2.25% |
| city | City of Memphis | 0.5% |
- Population
- 618,639
- Median household income
- $47,948
Memphis added a half-cent city increment in 2023 for public safety pay, taking it to Tennessee's statutory maximum.
Nashville, TN
Davidson County
9.25%
Combined rate · ranked #12 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Davidson County (Metro Nashville) | 2.25% |
- Population
- 689,447
- Median household income
- $72,089
Tennessee caps the local rate at 2.75% and applies a reduced 4% state rate to groceries, so Nashville's effective rate on food is far lower than 9.25%.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.5%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.5% of $1,000 is $5.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Memphis or Nashville?
Memphis, TN at 9.75%, versus 9.25% in Nashville, TN.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Memphis on a $1,000 purchase?
About $5.00 more, and roughly $125.00 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Memphis and Nashville have different rates?
The state share is 7% in TN and 7% in TN. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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