City comparison
No. St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 376 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and St Louis split most clearly. St Louis scores 143 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 $997 in St Louis.
St Louis is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone St Louis is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and St Louis are 240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $997 a month in St Louis, down $184 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $56,160 in St Louis, up $4,424 (9%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 352 in St Louis, down 143 points (29%).
The move
St Louis and Memphis are 240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $184 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $51,736 in Memphis, down $4,424 (8%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 495 in Memphis, up 143 points (41%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
St Louis rent is 16% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,181 in Memphis, so St Louis is 16% 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 $2,208, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
St Louis's median income is 9% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
St Louis
Winner$56,160
Median household income is $56,160 in St Louis versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 9% higher in St Louis (about $4,424 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
29% lower crime
St Louis's crime index is 29% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
St Louis
Winner352 (100 = avg)
St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in St Louis. 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, St Louis 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 St Louis
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis 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 St Louis 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
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat St Louis on this page's weather index by 25%. St Louis 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
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Louis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($56,160). Start with St Louis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Louis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Memphis (352 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
Crime and safety tilt toward St Louis: St Louis scores 22/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $997 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 11 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (22/100 in St Louis vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,181 in Memphis.
If safety drives your move, St Louis is the stronger match (22/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to St Louis?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for St Louis when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and St Louis, plus other cities in TN and MO.
