City comparison
No. Anchorage's crime index is 240 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 295 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,489 in Anchorage.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and Anchorage. Memphis averages 68°F while Anchorage averages 37°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,181 versus $1,489.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Anchorage 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
Memphis and Anchorage are 3,136 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, up $308 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $51,548 (100%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 240 in Anchorage, down 255 points (52%).
The move
Anchorage and Memphis are 3,136 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $308 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $51,736 in Memphis, down $51,548 (50%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 495 in Memphis, up 255 points (106%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Memphis rent is 21% cheaper than Anchorage
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Anchorage
$1,489/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,489 in Anchorage, so Memphis is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $308/month back in your pocket ($3,696/year). Over five years that's $18,480 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 Anchorage, 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
100% higher
Anchorage's median income is 100% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 100% higher in Anchorage (about $51,548 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, Anchorage 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
52% lower crime
Anchorage's crime index is 52% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Anchorage
Winner240 (100 = avg)
Anchorage's crime index is 240 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Anchorage. 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, Anchorage 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
355% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 355% more comfortable than Anchorage
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 355% 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 Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 21% 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 (68°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 355%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 100% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anchorage is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Memphis (240 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
Anchorage (37°F) and Memphis (68°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 31°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,489 vs $1,181) and pay ($103,284 vs $51,736) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Anchorage's $1,489, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 11/100 in Memphis and 33/100 in Anchorage.
If climate drives your move, Anchorage is the stronger match (37°F typical weather versus 68°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Memphis?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Anchorage, plus other cities in TN and AK.
