City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and Memphis split most clearly. San Antonio scores 283 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on the job market and safety and Memphis wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Memphis are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $143 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $51,736 in Memphis, down $13,320 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 495 in Memphis, up 283 points (133%).
The move
Memphis and San Antonio are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $143 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $13,320 (26%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 212 in San Antonio, down 283 points (57%).
San Antonio, TX
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 San Antonio and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Memphis rent is 11% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Memphis is 11% 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 $1,716, 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 San Antonio.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
San Antonio's median income is 26% higher than Memphis
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 26% higher in San Antonio (about $13,320 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, San Antonio 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
57% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 57% lower than Memphis
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in San Antonio. 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, San Antonio 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
San Antonio and Memphis are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis sits near 70°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Antonio is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($65,056). Start with San Antonio if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
San Antonio is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Memphis (212 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
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 11% 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but San Antonio leads on safety (37/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below San Antonio's $1,324, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,324 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in San Antonio; 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 San Antonio and Memphis, plus other cities in TX and TN.
