City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Memphis and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 402 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Tampa 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 Tampa are 668 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $520 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $75,475 in Tampa, up $23,739 (46%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 93 in Tampa, down 402 points (81%).
The move
Tampa and Memphis are 668 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $520 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $51,736 in Memphis, down $23,739 (31%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 495 in Memphis, up 402 points (432%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Memphis rent is 31% cheaper than Tampa
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Memphis is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $520/month back in your pocket ($6,240/year). Over five years that's $31,200 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Tampa's median income is 46% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Tampa (about $23,739 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, Tampa 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
81% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 81% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°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 31% 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
Tampa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 81% lower than Memphis (93 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 Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Between Memphis and Tampa, Tampa is ahead on safety — 62/100 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 Tampa, plus other cities in TN and FL.
