City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and Tulsa is significant: $87,430 median household versus $59,838. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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
Long Beach and Tulsa are 1,265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $819 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $27,592 (32%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 236 in Tulsa, up 49 points (26%).
The move
Tulsa and Long Beach are 1,265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $819 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $27,592 (46%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 187 in Long Beach, down 49 points (21%).
Long Beach, CA
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 Long Beach and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 44% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Tulsa is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $819/month back in your pocket ($9,828/year). Over five years that's $49,140 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 Long Beach, 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 Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Long Beach's median income is 46% higher than Tulsa
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Long Beach (about $27,592 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, Long Beach 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
21% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 21% lower than Tulsa
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Long Beach. 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, Long Beach 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
Long Beach weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Long Beach 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 46% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Long Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Tulsa (187 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 44% 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,052/month in Tulsa versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $59,838 in Tulsa and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Long Beach and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Tulsa clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $819/month in Tulsa.
Common questions
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