Is San Antonio cheaper than Tulsa?

No. Tulsa is cheaper: typical rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio — 21% lower. Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio compared with $59,838 in Tulsa, so San Antonio has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, San Antonio or Tulsa?

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

Which city has better schools, San Antonio or Tulsa?

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

New search

City comparison

San Antonio, TX vs Tulsa, OK

San Antonio, TX 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 $1,324 a month in San Antonio and $1,052 in Tulsa, and median household income lands at $65,056 versus $59,838. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

San Antonio takes job market, while Tulsa takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Tulsa leads by 21% — 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 San Antonio can feel further apart than San Antonio and Tulsa do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the San Antonio and Tulsa reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full San Antonio report Full Tulsa report

San Antonio, TX

Rent: $1,324/mo
Median income: $65,056
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 87°F

Tulsa, OK

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

Rent

21% cheaper

Tulsa rent is 21% cheaper than San Antonio

San Antonio

$1,324/mo

Tulsa

Winner

$1,052/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Tulsa is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $272/month back in your pocket — $3,264/year. Over five years that's $16,320 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 San Antonio, 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

9% higher

San Antonio's median income is 9% higher than Tulsa

San Antonio

Winner

$65,056

Tulsa

$59,838

What this means for your life

Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 9% higher in San Antonio — about $5,218 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

San Antonio and Tulsa are about even on crime index.

San Antonio

32 (100 = avg)

Tulsa

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

San Antonio 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

San Antonio and Tulsa are about even on school scores.

San Antonio

A- · 84/100

Tulsa

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in San Antonio, 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

9% more comfortable

Tulsa weather is 9% more comfortable than San Antonio

San Antonio

87°F typical

Tulsa

Winner

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Tulsa scores 9% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 87°F in San Antonio and 85°F in Tulsa. San Antonio reads as hot, long summers; Tulsa reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want San Antonio's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose San Antonio

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

San Antonio is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($65,056). Start with San Antonio if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the San Antonio report →

Fit check

Who should choose Tulsa

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 21% 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 (85°F) beat San Antonio on this page's weather index by 9%. San Antonio may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Tulsa report →

Bottom line

San Antonio vs Tulsa, called

If cost of living is your priority, Tulsa is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, San Antonio pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

San Antonio vs Tulsa FAQ

Is San Antonio cheaper than Tulsa?: No. Tulsa is cheaper: typical rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio — 21% lower. Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio compared with $59,838 in Tulsa, so San Antonio has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Antonio or Tulsa?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in San Antonio and 32 in Tulsa (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, San Antonio or Tulsa?: School composites are close: A- in San Antonio and A- in Tulsa. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Tulsa?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps