City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Tulsa split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Oklahoma City 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 crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Tulsa are 98 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $78 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $8,818 (13%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 236 in Tulsa, up 53 points (29%).
The move
Tulsa and Oklahoma City are 98 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $78 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $8,818 (15%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 53 points (22%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 7% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Tulsa is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 15% higher than Tulsa
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Oklahoma City (about $8,818 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, Oklahoma City 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
22% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 22% lower than Tulsa
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
3% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 3% more comfortable than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 3% 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 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($68,656). Start with Oklahoma City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Tulsa (183 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 7% 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 Oklahoma City on this page's weather index by 3%. Oklahoma City may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Tulsa carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City). That 8-point spread matters more than the $78 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Oklahoma City's $1,130, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Tulsa deserves a serious look only when you already know the Tulsa block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Tulsa, plus other cities in OK.
