City comparison
No. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Tulsa split most clearly. Tulsa scores 259 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Tulsa has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Tulsa are 341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $129 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $8,102 (16%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 236 in Tulsa, down 259 points (52%).
The move
Tulsa and Memphis are 341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $129 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $51,736 in Memphis, down $8,102 (14%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 495 in Memphis, up 259 points (110%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 11% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Tulsa is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,548, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tulsa still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Tulsa's median income is 16% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Tulsa (about $8,102 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, Tulsa is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 52% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Memphis 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Tulsa on this page's weather index by 9%. Tulsa may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Tulsa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($59,838). Start with Tulsa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Memphis (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tulsa leads on safety (34/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $129 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,181 in Memphis.
Tulsa is ahead on safety (34/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Tulsa, plus other cities in TN and OK.
