City comparison
No. Kansas City's crime index is 343 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 423 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
The income gap between Memphis and Kansas City is significant: $51,736 median household versus $69,166. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,238 in Kansas City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Kansas City 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 crime gap is citywide. Kansas City has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Kansas City are 370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $57 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $17,430 (34%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 343 in Kansas City, down 152 points (31%).
The move
Kansas City and Memphis are 370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $57 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $51,736 in Memphis, down $17,430 (25%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 495 in Memphis, up 152 points (44%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Memphis rent is 5% cheaper than Kansas City
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Memphis is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $57, or $684 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Kansas City's median income is 34% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Kansas City (about $17,430 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, Kansas City 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
31% lower crime
Kansas City's crime index is 31% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
Winner343 (100 = avg)
Kansas City's crime index is 343 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Kansas City. 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, Kansas City 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
25% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 25% more comfortable than Kansas City
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 25% 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 Kansas City 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 5% 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 Kansas City on this page's weather index by 25%. Kansas City 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
Kansas City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 34% higher here ($69,166). Start with Kansas City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Kansas City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Memphis (343 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: Kansas City scores 23/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,238/month in Kansas City and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Kansas City's $1,238, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 58°F in Kansas City.
Between Memphis and Kansas City, Kansas City is ahead on safety — 23/100 safety versus 11/100. Lean Memphis instead when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Kansas City, plus other cities in TN and MO.
