City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Memphis and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Memphis and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 449 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 $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Cape Coral wins on the job market and safety. 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
Memphis and Cape Coral are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $677 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $26,368 (51%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 46 in Cape Coral, down 449 points (91%).
The move
Cape Coral and Memphis are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $677 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $51,736 in Memphis, down $26,368 (34%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 495 in Memphis, up 449 points (976%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cape Coral, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Memphis rent is 36% cheaper than Cape Coral
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Memphis is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $677/month back in your pocket ($8,124/year). Over five years that's $40,620 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 Cape Coral, 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 Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 51% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Cape Coral (about $26,368 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, Cape Coral 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
91% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 91% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 91% lower in Cape Coral. 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, Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 73°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
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Cape Coral is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($78,104). Start with Cape Coral if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cape Coral is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 91% lower than Memphis (46 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: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 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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Nearby research
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