Oklahoma City vs Tulsa
Compare Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,017/mo in Oklahoma City and $982/mo in Tulsa, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,091/mo and $1,128/mo. Across the four public-data screens Oklahoma City comes out ahead (245 vs 232 summed points), though Tulsa still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 94°F and 93°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Tulsa; if walkable daily life matters more, Oklahoma City screens stronger on the walkability proxy (11 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Tulsa leads 70 to 66 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Oklahoma City leads 41 to 35 on the daily life screen.
Oklahoma City leads 64 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Oklahoma City is roughly $113,333 in Tulsa using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City | Tulsa | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,017/mo | $982/mo | Tulsa |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,091/mo | $1,128/mo | Oklahoma City |
| Median home value | $197,000 | $188,000 | Tulsa |
| State income tax | 4.5% | 4.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 23.7 min | Tulsa |
| Safety score | 64/100 | 40/100 | Oklahoma City |
| School score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Oklahoma City |
| Walkability estimate | 11/100 | 7/100 | Oklahoma City |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 192.9 | 176.4 | Oklahoma City |
| Mountain distance | 105 mi | 40 mi | Tulsa |
| Coast distance | 420 mi | 445 mi | Oklahoma City |
What stands out
Oklahoma City stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Oklahoma City tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Tulsa stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Mountain access within 40 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Tulsa tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Oklahoma City cheaper than Tulsa?
On public benchmarks Tulsa is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,017/mo in Oklahoma City vs $982/mo in Tulsa; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,091/mo vs $1,128/mo; state income tax is 4.5% vs 4.5%.
Is Oklahoma City or Tulsa safer?
Oklahoma City screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 64/100 for Oklahoma City and 40/100 for Tulsa (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Oklahoma City or Tulsa?
School screens show 6/10 for Oklahoma City vs 5/10 for Tulsa, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Oklahoma City and Tulsa?
Oklahoma City: summer highs near 94°F, winter lows near 26°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Tulsa: 93°F / 27°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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