City comparison
No. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Philadelphia and Tulsa. Philadelphia averages 54°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 $1,397 versus $1,052.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 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
Philadelphia and Tulsa are 1,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $345 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $2,115 (3%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 236 in Tulsa, down 25 points (10%).
The move
Tulsa and Philadelphia are 1,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $345 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $61,953 in Philadelphia, up $2,115 (4%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 261 in Philadelphia, up 25 points (11%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 25% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Tulsa is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $345/month back in your pocket ($4,140/year). Over five years that's $20,700 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 Philadelphia, 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
4% higher
Philadelphia's median income is 4% higher than Tulsa
Philadelphia
Winner$61,953
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Philadelphia (about $2,115 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 10% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Tulsa. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Tulsa, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Philadelphia. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 33% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 33% 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 Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($61,953). Start with Philadelphia if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 25% 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 Philadelphia on this page's weather index by 33%. Philadelphia may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Philadelphia (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Tulsa at $1,052/month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia ($345 apart). Philadelphia median income is $61,953 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 Philadelphia's $1,397, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 31/100 in Philadelphia and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Pick Tulsa when shaving $345 off rent at $1,052/month is the priority. Otherwise, Philadelphia's case rests on $1,397/month rent with $61,953 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Tulsa, plus other cities in PA and OK.
