City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and Memphis split most clearly. Chicago scores 328 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Chicago pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Memphis are 481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $259 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $51,736 in Memphis, down $26,166 (34%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 495 in Memphis, up 328 points (196%).
The move
Memphis and Chicago are 481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $259 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $77,902 in Chicago, up $26,166 (51%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 167 in Chicago, down 328 points (66%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Memphis rent is 18% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Memphis is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,108, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chicago.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Chicago's median income is 51% higher than Memphis
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Chicago (about $26,166 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chicago is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
66% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 66% lower than Memphis
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% lower in Chicago. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Chicago is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Memphis
Winner70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than Memphis (167 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 20%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Chicago leads on safety (44/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,440 in Chicago and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Chicago's $1,440, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,440 in Chicago.
Chicago is ahead on safety (44/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Memphis, plus other cities in IL and TN.
