City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Memphis and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Memphis and Orlando split most clearly. Orlando scores 253 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Orlando 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 Orlando are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $566 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $72,336 in Orlando, up $20,600 (40%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 242 in Orlando, down 253 points (51%).
The move
Orlando and Memphis are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $566 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $51,736 in Memphis, down $20,600 (28%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 495 in Memphis, up 253 points (105%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Memphis rent is 32% cheaper than Orlando
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Memphis is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $566/month back in your pocket ($6,792/year). Over five years that's $33,960 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 Orlando, 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 Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Orlando's median income is 40% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Orlando (about $20,600 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, Orlando 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
51% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 51% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in Orlando. 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, Orlando 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 Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°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 32% 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
Orlando is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Memphis (242 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 Orlando leads on safety (33/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,747 in Orlando and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Orlando still pays more locally ($72,336 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Orlando rates.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Between Memphis and Orlando, Orlando is ahead on safety — 33/100 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Orlando, plus other cities in TN and FL.
