City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Memphis and Colorado Springs is significant: $51,736 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $467 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $33,082 (64%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 295 points (60%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Memphis are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $467 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $51,736 in Memphis, down $33,082 (39%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 495 in Memphis, up 295 points (148%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Memphis rent is 28% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Memphis is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $467/month back in your pocket ($5,604/year). Over five years that's $28,020 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 Colorado Springs, 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
64% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 64% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Colorado Springs (about $33,082 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, Colorado Springs 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
60% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 60% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
35% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 35% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Memphis
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Memphis averages around 64°F. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 35% 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 Colorado Springs 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 28% 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 (64°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 35%. Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 64% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than Memphis (200 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs scores 39/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,648 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
If safety drives your move, Colorado Springs is the stronger match (39/100 safety versus 11/100). 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in TN and CO.
