City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tulsa and St Paul. Tulsa averages 62°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,052 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and St Paul 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 St Paul are 626 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $229 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $73,394 in St Paul, up $13,556 (23%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 166 in St Paul, down 70 points (30%).
The move
St Paul and Tulsa are 626 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $229 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $13,556 (18%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 236 in Tulsa, up 70 points (42%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 18% cheaper than St Paul
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Tulsa is 18% 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 $2,748, 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 St Paul.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
St Paul's median income is 23% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 23% higher in St Paul (about $13,556 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, St Paul 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
30% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 30% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in St Paul. 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, St Paul 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
59% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 59% more comfortable than St Paul
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 59% 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 St Paul 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 18% 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 St Paul on this page's weather index by 59%. St Paul 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
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Tulsa (166 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,052/month rent in Tulsa at 62°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $59,838 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
St Paul still pays more locally ($73,394 median income vs $59,838), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Paul rates.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,281 in St Paul.
Between Tulsa and St Paul, Tulsa is ahead on climate — 62°F typical weather versus 50°F. Lean St Paul instead when you would rather tolerate 50°F than optimize for Tulsa's comfort score.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and St Paul, plus other cities in OK and MN.
