City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Memphis and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 415 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 $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Honolulu 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 Honolulu are 4,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $642 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $34,768 (67%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 80 in Honolulu, down 415 points (84%).
The move
Honolulu and Memphis are 4,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $642 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $51,736 in Memphis, down $34,768 (40%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 495 in Memphis, up 415 points (519%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Memphis rent is 35% cheaper than Honolulu
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Memphis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $642/month back in your pocket ($7,704/year). Over five years that's $38,520 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 Honolulu, 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 Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
67% higher
Honolulu's median income is 67% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 67% higher in Honolulu (about $34,768 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, Honolulu 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
84% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 84% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% lower in Honolulu. 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, Honolulu 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 Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu sits near 77°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 35% 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
Honolulu is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 67% higher here ($86,504). Start with Honolulu if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 84% lower than Memphis (80 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Honolulu leads on safety (67/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Honolulu still pays more locally ($86,504 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Honolulu rates.
Median income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Honolulu is ahead on safety (67/100 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Honolulu, plus other cities in TN and HI.
