Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
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.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
37% less violent crime than Tulsa
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,945 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Rent averages $231/mo less ($958 vs $1,189)
Homes cost $24k less ($174,200 vs $198,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Antonio
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails San Antonio by $2,945/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Median Income
$2,945
$59,593 vs $56,648/yr
San Antonio
Violent Crime
37% lower
594.1 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$24k less
$174,200 vs $198,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 12 and Tulsa wins 11. 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 San Antonio to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($59,593 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Tulsa, OK are about 485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.