Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
43% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $15,025 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($174,200 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $356/mo less ($958 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chicago by $15,025/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$15,025
$71,673 vs $56,648/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
43% lower
539.8 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$130k less
$174,200 vs $304,500
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Tulsa wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Tulsa, OK are about 591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.