City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Memphis split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 337 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and safety and Memphis wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Los Angeles and Memphis are 1,600 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $752 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $51,736 in Memphis, down $30,203 (37%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 495 in Memphis, up 337 points (213%).
The move
Memphis and Los Angeles are 1,600 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $752 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $30,203 (58%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 158 in Los Angeles, down 337 points (68%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Memphis rent is 39% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Memphis is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $752/month back in your pocket ($9,024/year). Over five years that's $45,120 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
58% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 58% higher than Memphis
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Los Angeles (about $30,203 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, Los Angeles 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
68% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 68% lower than Memphis
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Memphis are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 58% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 68% lower than Memphis (158 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Los Angeles: Los Angeles scores 46/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,933 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 35 safety points for housing savings.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Pick Los Angeles when you want the stronger safety signal (46/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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