City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Memphis and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where Memphis and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 330 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 $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg are 662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $482 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $23,456 (45%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 165 in St Petersburg, down 330 points (67%).
The move
St Petersburg and Memphis are 662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $482 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $51,736 in Memphis, down $23,456 (31%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 495 in Memphis, up 330 points (200%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Memphis rent is 29% cheaper than St Petersburg
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Memphis is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $482/month back in your pocket ($5,784/year). Over five years that's $28,920 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 St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 45% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 45% higher in St Petersburg (about $23,456 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, St Petersburg 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
67% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 67% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in St Petersburg. 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 Petersburg 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 St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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 29% 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
St Petersburg is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($75,192). Start with St Petersburg if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Memphis (165 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
Safety is the widest gap: St Petersburg scores 45/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,663/month in St Petersburg and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below St Petersburg's $1,663, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in St Petersburg; 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 St Petersburg, plus other cities in TN and FL.
