City comparison
No. Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
The income gap between Memphis and Minneapolis is significant: $51,736 median household versus $80,846. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Minneapolis are 700 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $190 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $29,110 (56%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 303 in Minneapolis, down 192 points (39%).
The move
Minneapolis and Memphis are 700 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $190 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $51,736 in Memphis, down $29,110 (36%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 495 in Memphis, up 192 points (63%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Memphis rent is 14% cheaper than Minneapolis
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Memphis is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,280, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Minneapolis.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 56% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Minneapolis (about $29,110 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, Minneapolis 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
39% lower crime
Minneapolis's crime index is 39% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
Winner303 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Minneapolis. 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, Minneapolis 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
39% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 39% 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 Minneapolis 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 14% 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 Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis 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
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 56% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Minneapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Memphis (303 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Minneapolis at $80,846 median income versus $51,736 in Memphis. Housing ($1,181 in Memphis, $1,371 in Minneapolis) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (26/100 in Minneapolis vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 55°F in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Memphis deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,181/month beats chasing $80,846 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Minneapolis, plus other cities in TN and MN.
