Budget · Memphis · United States
Memphis on a budget
What a trip to Memphis really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Memphis is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $80–$130 per person per day on a tight budget, $180–$290 mid-range and $400–$800 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $80–$130 a day
- Mid-range
- $180–$290 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$800 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 6
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $80–$130 | $240–$390 | $400–$650 | $560–$910 |
| Mid-range | $180–$290 | $540–$870 | $900–$1,450 | $1,260–$2,030 |
| Luxury | $400–$800 | $1,200–$2,400 | $2,000–$4,000 | $2,800–$5,600 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Memphis, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Trolley ride | about $1–$2 |
| Rack of ribs | about $25–$35 |
| Pulled pork sandwich | about $8–$12 |
| Graceland admission | about $80–$180 by package |
| National Civil Rights Museum ticket | about $20–$25 |
| Sun Studio tour | about $15–$20 |
| Beer in a Beale Street club | about $6–$10 |
| Mid-range dinner, before tip | about $35–$60 per person |
Money-saving tips
- Beale Street, the Peabody Ducks, Tom Lee Park, Big River Crossing, Overton Park and Shelby Farms are free.
- Barbecue and soul food are filling and inexpensive; a sandwich and a side make a full meal.
- Graceland packages vary widely in price; the basic mansion tour may be all most visitors need.
- Hotel prices rise during Elvis Week, Memphis in May and big Grizzlies games; check the calendar before booking.
- Free Levitt Shell concerts are one of the best-value nights out in the city.
Free things to do
- Beale Street — Three blocks of neon-lit clubs, bars and shops mark the street where W.C.
- The Peabody Ducks — Twice a day at the historic Peabody hotel, a small flock of mallards marches along a red carpet to a John Philip Sousa tune, from their rooftop palace to the lobby's marble fountain and back again, led by the Duckmaster.
- Big River Crossing — A walking and cycling path along the Harahan Bridge, Big River Crossing stretches about 1.6 km across the Mississippi to Arkansas, with views of the river, the downtown skyline and passing barges.
- Tom Lee Park — Reopened in 2023 after a major redesign, this long riverside park below the downtown bluff has playgrounds, shaded pavilions, sports courts and lawns facing the Mississippi.
- Overton Park and the Levitt Shell — Midtown's large park includes the Old Forest, a tract of old-growth woodland, and the Levitt Shell, an outdoor bandshell where Elvis Presley played his first paid concert in 1954.
- Shelby Farms Park — One of the largest urban parks in the United States, Shelby Farms covers about 1,800 hectares of lakes, forest and meadows, with a small bison herd, kayak and paddleboat rentals, playgrounds and many kilometres of trails.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for food lovers, families and culture
Midtown and Overton Square
Theatres, restaurants and the green space of Overton Park
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and budget
Cooper-Young
Bungalows, independent restaurants and bars around the Cooper and Young intersection
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and couples
Harbor Town
A quiet residential community on Mud Island facing the downtown skyline
Eating well for less
- Barbecue nachos — Barbecue restaurants and at Grizzlies games at the FedExForum.
- Delta hot tamales — Some Memphis barbecue joints and small tamale shops, and throughout the Delta around Clarksdale and Greenville.
Getting around for less
Downtown, Beale Street, South Main and the riverfront are walkable and served by vintage trolleys, but Graceland, Stax, Sun Studio and the parks are spread out, so most visitors use a car or rideshares.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Memphis cost?
About $900–$1,450 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $400–$650 on a tight budget.
+Is Memphis expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Beale Street, the Peabody Ducks, Tom Lee Park, Big River Crossing, Overton Park and Shelby Farms are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Memphis?
Roughly $80–$130 on a budget and $180–$290 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Memphis?
Usually in February.