Is New York cheaper than Memphis?

No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,821 in New York — 35% lower. Median household income is $80,483 in New York compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so New York has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, New York or Memphis?

New York is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 140 in Memphis — 30% 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, New York or Memphis?

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

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City comparison

New York, NY vs Memphis, TN

New York, NY versus Memphis, TN 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 $1,821 a month in New York and $1,181 in Memphis, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $51,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

New York takes job market, safety, and weather, while Memphis takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where New York leads by 56% — 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 New York can feel further apart than New York and Memphis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the New York and Memphis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full New York report Full Memphis report

New York, NY

Rent: $1,821/mo
Median income: $80,483
Crime index: 98
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Memphis, TN

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

Rent

35% cheaper

Memphis rent is 35% cheaper than New York

New York

$1,821/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,821 in New York, so Memphis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $640/month back in your pocket — $7,680/year. Over five years that's $38,400 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 New York, 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

56% higher

New York's median income is 56% higher than Memphis

New York

Winner

$80,483

Memphis

$51,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in New York — about $28,747 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, New York 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

30% lower crime

New York's crime index is 30% lower than Memphis

New York

Winner

98 (100 = avg)

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

New York's crime index is 98 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in New York. 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, New York 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

New York and Memphis are about even on school scores.

New York

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

24% more comfortable

New York weather is 24% more comfortable than Memphis

New York

Winner

73°F typical

Memphis

80°F typical

What this means for your life

New York scores 24% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in New York and 80°F in Memphis. New York reads as warm weather most of the year; Memphis 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. New York 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 New York

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 ($80,483), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Memphis (98 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 New York report →

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 35% 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 →

Bottom line

New York vs Memphis, called

If the job market is your priority, New York is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

New York vs Memphis FAQ

Is New York cheaper than Memphis?: No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,821 in New York — 35% lower. Median household income is $80,483 in New York compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so New York has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, New York or Memphis?: New York is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 140 in Memphis — 30% 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, New York or Memphis?: School composites are close: A- in New York and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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