City comparison
No. Oakland's crime index is 434 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 491 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
The income gap between Memphis and Oakland is significant: $51,736 median household versus $101,600. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,979 in Oakland.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Oakland 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 Oakland are 1,791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $798 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $101,600 in Oakland, up $49,864 (96%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 434 in Oakland, down 61 points (12%).
The move
Oakland and Memphis are 1,791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $798 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $51,736 in Memphis, down $49,864 (49%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 495 in Memphis, up 61 points (14%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Memphis rent is 40% cheaper than Oakland
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Memphis is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $798/month back in your pocket ($9,576/year). Over five years that's $47,880 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 Oakland, 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 Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
96% higher
Oakland's median income is 96% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 96% higher in Oakland (about $49,864 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, Oakland 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
12% lower crime
Oakland's crime index is 12% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Oakland
Winner434 (100 = avg)
Oakland's crime index is 434 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Oakland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Oakland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Memphis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Memphis and Oakland are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland sits near 68°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 40% 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
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 96% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Oakland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Memphis (434 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
Pay is the headline: Oakland median income is $101,600 versus $51,736 in Memphis (49% higher). Rent still runs $1,979/month in Oakland and $1,181/month in Memphis, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Oakland rates.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Safety scores read 11/100 in Memphis and 15/100 in Oakland.
Pick Oakland when your field pays toward $101,600 median income. Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a $1,181 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Oakland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Oakland, plus other cities in TN and CA.
