City comparison
No. Albuquerque's crime index is 293 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 320 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Albuquerque split most clearly. Albuquerque scores 202 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Albuquerque is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Albuquerque has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Albuquerque are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $36 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $16,581 (32%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 293 in Albuquerque, down 202 points (41%).
The move
Albuquerque and Memphis are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $36 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $51,736 in Memphis, down $16,581 (24%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 495 in Memphis, up 202 points (69%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 3% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Albuquerque is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $36, or $432 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 32% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Albuquerque (about $16,581 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, Albuquerque 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
41% lower crime
Albuquerque's crime index is 41% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
Winner293 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque's crime index is 293 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Albuquerque. 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, Albuquerque 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
Memphis and Albuquerque are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Albuquerque sits near 65°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis
On these five categories Albuquerque takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Memphis because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Memphis only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Albuquerque is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($68,317). Start with Albuquerque if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Albuquerque is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Memphis (293 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Albuquerque scores 27/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,145/month in Albuquerque and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $36 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,181 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Albuquerque; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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