Is Philadelphia cheaper than Tulsa?

No. Tulsa is cheaper: typical rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia — 25% lower. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $59,838 in Tulsa, so Philadelphia has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Tulsa?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Philadelphia and 32 in Tulsa (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Tulsa?

School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Tulsa. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Tulsa, OK

Philadelphia, PA versus Tulsa, OK is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,397 a month in Philadelphia and $1,052 in Tulsa, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $59,838. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes job market and weather, while Tulsa takes affordability. The widest gap is typical weather, where Philadelphia leads by 43% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Tulsa do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Tulsa reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Tulsa report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,397/mo
Median income: $61,953
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Tulsa, OK

Rent: $1,052/mo
Median income: $59,838
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Rent

25% cheaper

Tulsa rent is 25% cheaper than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$1,397/mo

Tulsa

Winner

$1,052/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Tulsa is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $345/month back in your pocket — $4,140/year. Over five years that's $20,700 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 Philadelphia, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

4% higher

Philadelphia's median income is 4% higher than Tulsa

Philadelphia

Winner

$61,953

Tulsa

$59,838

What this means for your life

Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Philadelphia — about $2,115 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

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Tulsa are about even on crime index.

Philadelphia

32 (100 = avg)

Tulsa

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia and Tulsa post similar crime indexes (32 vs 32, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Tulsa are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Tulsa

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Tulsa). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

43% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 43% more comfortable than Tulsa

Philadelphia

Winner

74°F typical

Tulsa

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 43% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Philadelphia and 85°F in Tulsa. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Tulsa reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Philadelphia is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Tulsa can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

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 4% higher ($61,953), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 74°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Fit check

Who should choose Tulsa

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 25% 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.

Open the Tulsa report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Tulsa, called

If weather is your priority, Philadelphia is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Tulsa pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Philadelphia offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Tulsa FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Tulsa?: No. Tulsa is cheaper: typical rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia — 25% lower. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $59,838 in Tulsa, so Philadelphia has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Tulsa?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Philadelphia and 32 in Tulsa (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Tulsa?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Tulsa. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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