City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Tulsa split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 174 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach and Tulsa are 1,111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $662 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $33,130 (36%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 236 in Tulsa, up 174 points (281%).
The move
Tulsa and Virginia Beach are 1,111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $662 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $33,130 (55%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 174 points (74%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 39% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Tulsa is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $662/month back in your pocket ($7,944/year). Over five years that's $39,720 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 Virginia Beach, 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
55% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 55% higher than Tulsa
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Virginia Beach (about $33,130 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, Virginia Beach 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
74% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 74% lower than Tulsa
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
11% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 11% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 11% 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 55% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than Tulsa (62 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 39% 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 Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 11%. Virginia Beach 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 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 41-point spread matters more than the $662 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $59,838), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
Virginia Beach 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Tulsa, plus other cities in VA and OK.
