City comparison
Yes. New York's crime index is 169 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New York and Tulsa. New York averages 52°F while Tulsa averages 62°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,821 versus $1,052.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and New York 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
New York and Tulsa are 1,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $769 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $20,645 (26%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 236 in Tulsa, up 67 points (40%).
The move
Tulsa and New York are 1,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,821 a month in New York, up $769 a month (73%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $80,483 in New York, up $20,645 (35%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 169 in New York, down 67 points (28%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 42% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,821 in New York, so Tulsa is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $769/month back in your pocket ($9,228/year). Over five years that's $46,140 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 New York, 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
35% higher
New York's median income is 35% higher than Tulsa
New York
Winner$80,483
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 35% higher in New York (about $20,645 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, New York 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
28% lower crime
New York's crime index is 28% lower than Tulsa
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
44% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 44% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). New York averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 44% 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 New York 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
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Tulsa (169 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 42% 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 New York on this page's weather index by 44%. New York may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Tulsa undercuts New York by $769/month ($1,052 vs $1,821). I would not pick New York on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below New York's $1,821, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 44/100 in New York and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Tulsa; New York only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for New York at $80,483 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Tulsa, plus other cities in NY and OK.
