01 · the cities
Miami
Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.
full dispatch→Memphis
Memphis is dry-rub ribs, Beale Street neon, and the rooms where Stax and Sun Records changed pop music forever. Graceland is a tourist pilgrimage that's still genuinely moving. The Mississippi rolls past, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is essential, and the BBQ debate (rib joints vs. the chopped-pork houses) is a local pastime. Soulful in the literal sense.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,665/mo
$1,436/mo
$1,229/mo less than Miami (86%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$244k
$321k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,897/mo
Memphis has $1,229/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
272 days
185 days
87 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
6 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
Memphis has 6 more days above 95°F each year than Miami. Memphis drops below 20°F on 5 more days per year than Miami.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
56 / 100
21.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
32 routes
135 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
1.3M metro
Miami has 27.4x more events per month than Memphis.
the verdict
5
Miami
categories won
3
Memphis
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Memphis has the edge on money.
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