City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Tulsa is significant: $93,658 median household versus $59,838. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Tulsa makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Tulsa at $1,052 average has pockets that run $852 and others at $1,452: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Tulsa are 419 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $677 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $33,820 (36%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 236 in Tulsa, up 74 points (46%).
The move
Tulsa and Austin are 419 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $677 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $93,658 in Austin, up $33,820 (57%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 162 in Austin, down 74 points (31%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 39% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,729 in Austin, so Tulsa is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $677/month back in your pocket ($8,124/year). Over five years that's $40,620 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 Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Austin's median income is 57% higher than Tulsa
Austin
Winner$93,658
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Austin (about $33,820 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, Austin 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
31% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 31% lower than Tulsa
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Austin. 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, Austin is the easier city. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Austin weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Austin scores 9% 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 Tulsa 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 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 57% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Tulsa (162 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tulsa
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Tulsa at $1,052/month versus $1,729 in Austin ($677 apart). Austin median income is $93,658 against $59,838 in Tulsa, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Pick Tulsa when shaving $677 off rent at $1,052/month is the priority. Otherwise, Austin's case rests on $1,729/month rent with $93,658 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Tulsa, plus other cities in TX and OK.
