City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tulsa and Pittsburgh. Tulsa averages 62°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,052 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Pittsburgh 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
Tulsa and Pittsburgh are 915 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $209 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $5,904 (10%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 78 points (33%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Tulsa are 915 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $209 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $5,904 (9%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 236 in Tulsa, up 78 points (49%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 17% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Tulsa is 17% 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 $2,508, 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 Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 10% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Pittsburgh (about $5,904 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
33% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 33% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh 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
51% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 51% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 51% 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 Pittsburgh 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
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% 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 Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 51%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Tulsa (158 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 Pittsburgh leads on safety (46/100 vs 34/100 in Tulsa). Typical rent is $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,052 in Tulsa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is ahead on safety (46/100 vs 34/100); Tulsa is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,052/month rent plus $59,838 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to Tulsa?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tulsa when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in OK and PA.
