Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
San Francisco
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $1209k less ($139,600 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1266/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,316)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $88,599/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $88,599 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$1209k less
$139,600 vs $1,348,700
Memphis
Summer Heat
30.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$88,599
$136,689 vs $48,090/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
76% lower
596.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and San Francisco wins 15. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($48,090 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and San Francisco, CA are about 1,838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.