City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Memphis and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 433 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 $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Virginia Beach 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 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 Virginia Beach are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $533 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $41,232 (80%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 433 points (87%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Memphis are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $533 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $51,736 in Memphis, down $41,232 (44%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 495 in Memphis, up 433 points (698%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Memphis rent is 31% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Memphis is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $533/month back in your pocket ($6,396/year). Over five years that's $31,980 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
80% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 80% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 80% higher in Virginia Beach (about $41,232 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, Virginia Beach 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
87% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 87% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 87% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
20% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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 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.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 80% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 87% lower than Memphis (62 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 Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,714 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 64 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Pick Virginia Beach when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Virginia Beach, plus other cities in TN and VA.
