Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Miami leads 12 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Miami
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($139,600 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,494)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami by $6,768/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
81% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $6,768 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$294k less
$139,600 vs $433,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.8°F
Miami
Median Income
$6,768
$54,858 vs $48,090/yr
Miami
Violent Crime
81% lower
473.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $54,858 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 443,665 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Miami leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Miami wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Memphis to Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $433,900 median home), income ($48,090 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Miami, FL are about 867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.