City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Memphis and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Pittsburgh scores 337 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 $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Pittsburgh are 659 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $80 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $14,006 (27%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 337 points (68%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Memphis are 659 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $80 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $51,736 in Memphis, down $14,006 (21%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 495 in Memphis, up 337 points (213%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Memphis rent is 6% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Memphis is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $80, or $960 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
27% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 27% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Pittsburgh (about $14,006 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, Pittsburgh 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
68% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 68% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh 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
64% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh 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 6% 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 Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 64%. Pittsburgh 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
Pittsburgh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 68% lower than Memphis (158 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 Pittsburgh leads on safety (46/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Pittsburgh; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in TN and PA.
