City comparison
Yes. Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 252 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Memphis split most clearly. Philadelphia scores 234 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Memphis are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $216 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $51,736 in Memphis, down $10,217 (16%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 495 in Memphis, up 234 points (90%).
The move
Memphis and Philadelphia are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $216 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $61,953 in Philadelphia, up $10,217 (20%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 261 in Philadelphia, down 234 points (47%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Memphis rent is 15% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Memphis is 15% 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 $2,592, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Philadelphia's median income is 20% higher than Memphis
Philadelphia
Winner$61,953
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Philadelphia (about $10,217 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, Philadelphia 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
47% lower crime
Philadelphia's crime index is 47% lower than Memphis
Philadelphia
Winner261 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Philadelphia. 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, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Memphis
Winner70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Philadelphia is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($61,953). Start with Philadelphia if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Memphis (261 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.
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 15% 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 (70°F) beat Philadelphia on this page's weather index by 20%. Philadelphia may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). That 20-point spread matters more than the $216 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Philadelphia still pays more locally ($61,953 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Philadelphia rates.
Median income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $51,736 in Memphis.
If safety drives your move, Philadelphia is the stronger match (31/100 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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Memphis, plus other cities in PA and TN.
