City comparison
No. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque and Tulsa are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,052 in Tulsa, and median household income lands at $68,317 versus $59,838. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Albuquerque makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tulsa is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Albuquerque and Tulsa are 603 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $93 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $8,479 (12%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 236 in Tulsa, down 57 points (19%).
The move
Tulsa and Albuquerque are 603 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $93 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $8,479 (14%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 293 in Albuquerque, up 57 points (24%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 8% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Tulsa is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $93, or $1,116 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 14% higher than Tulsa
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Albuquerque (about $8,479 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, Albuquerque is the stronger labor market on paper. Tulsa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 19% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Tulsa. 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, Tulsa is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
7% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 7% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 7% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Albuquerque if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Albuquerque is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($68,317). Start with Albuquerque if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Albuquerque on this page's weather index by 7%. Albuquerque may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Albuquerque (236 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Tulsa scores 34/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque. Rent is $1,052/month in Tulsa and $1,145/month in Albuquerque, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Albuquerque's $1,145, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Albuquerque and 62°F in Tulsa.
Tulsa is ahead on safety (34/100 vs 27/100); Albuquerque is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,145/month rent plus $68,317 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Albuquerque and Tulsa, plus other cities in NM and OK.
