City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and Tulsa is significant: $84,818 median household versus $59,838. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Colorado Springs pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Colorado Springs and Tulsa are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $596 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $24,980 (29%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 236 in Tulsa, up 36 points (18%).
The move
Tulsa and Colorado Springs are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $596 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $24,980 (42%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 36 points (15%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 36% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Tulsa is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $596/month back in your pocket ($7,152/year). Over five years that's $35,760 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 42% higher than Tulsa
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Colorado Springs (about $24,980 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, Colorado Springs 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
15% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 15% lower than Tulsa
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Colorado Springs. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Colorado Springs, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Tulsa. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 28% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 28% 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 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Tulsa (200 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
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 36% 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 Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 28%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Tulsa at $1,052/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($596 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 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 Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 62°F in Tulsa.
Pick Tulsa when shaving $596 off rent at $1,052/month is the priority. Otherwise, Colorado Springs's case rests on $1,648/month rent with $84,818 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Tulsa, plus other cities in CO and OK.
