Is Memphis cheaper than Minneapolis?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Minneapolis has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Memphis or Minneapolis?

School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Minneapolis, MN

Memphis, TN versus Minneapolis, MN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,181 a month in Memphis and $1,371 in Minneapolis, and median household income lands at $51,736 versus $80,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Minneapolis takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Minneapolis leads by 77% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Memphis can feel further apart than Memphis and Minneapolis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Minneapolis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Minneapolis report

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,181/mo
Median income: $51,736
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Minneapolis, MN

Rent: $1,371/mo
Median income: $80,846
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 72°F

Rent

14% cheaper

Memphis rent is 14% cheaper than Minneapolis

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

Minneapolis

$1,371/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Memphis is 14% 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 $2,280 — 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 Minneapolis.

Median income

56% higher

Minneapolis's median income is 56% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$51,736

Minneapolis

Winner

$80,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Minneapolis — about $29,110 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, Minneapolis 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

77% lower crime

Minneapolis's crime index is 77% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Minneapolis

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Minneapolis's crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Minneapolis. 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, Minneapolis is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Minneapolis are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Minneapolis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Minneapolis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

27% more comfortable

Minneapolis weather is 27% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

80°F typical

Minneapolis

Winner

72°F typical

What this means for your life

Minneapolis scores 27% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Memphis and 72°F in Minneapolis. Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year; Minneapolis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Minneapolis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Memphis can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

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 14% 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.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Minneapolis

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 56% higher ($80,846), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 72°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Minneapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Memphis (32 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.

Open the Minneapolis report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Minneapolis, called

If safety is your priority, Minneapolis is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Minneapolis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Memphis vs Minneapolis FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Minneapolis?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Minneapolis has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Memphis or Minneapolis?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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