City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Tulsa and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 143 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Tulsa makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tampa 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
Tulsa and Tampa are 973 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $649 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $75,475 in Tampa, up $15,637 (26%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 93 in Tampa, down 143 points (61%).
The move
Tampa and Tulsa are 973 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $649 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $15,637 (21%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 236 in Tulsa, up 143 points (154%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 38% cheaper than Tampa
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Tulsa is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $649/month back in your pocket ($7,788/year). Over five years that's $38,940 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Tampa's median income is 26% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Tampa (about $15,637 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, Tampa 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
61% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 61% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
9% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa scores 9% 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 Tulsa if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tulsa
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 26% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than Tulsa (93 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 Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 34/100 in Tulsa). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,052 in Tulsa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $59,838), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
Between Tulsa and Tampa, Tampa is ahead on safety — 62/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Tulsa instead 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 Tulsa and Tampa, plus other cities in OK and FL.
