Is Memphis cheaper than Raleigh?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Raleigh?

Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Raleigh, NC

Memphis, TN versus Raleigh, NC 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 $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $51,736 versus $85,395. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Raleigh takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Raleigh 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 Raleigh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Raleigh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Raleigh report

Memphis, TN

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

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

25% cheaper

Memphis rent is 25% cheaper than Raleigh

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

Raleigh

$1,572/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Memphis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $391/month back in your pocket — $4,692/year. Over five years that's $23,460 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Raleigh, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

65% higher

Raleigh's median income is 65% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$51,736

Raleigh

Winner

$85,395

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Raleigh — about $33,659 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, Raleigh 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

Raleigh's crime index is 77% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Raleigh

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Raleigh's crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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 Raleigh are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Raleigh). 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

7% more comfortable

Raleigh weather is 7% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

80°F typical

Raleigh

Winner

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Raleigh scores 7% 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 78°F in Raleigh. Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year; Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Memphis's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Raleigh is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 25% 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 Raleigh

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 65% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Raleigh 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 Raleigh report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Raleigh, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Raleigh FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Raleigh?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Raleigh?: Raleigh 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 Raleigh?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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