Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $631k less ($174,200 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $776/mo less ($958 vs $1,734)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $26,124/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
80% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $26,124 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 49°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Tulsa
Key Differences at a Glance
Tulsa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$631k less
$174,200 vs $805,500
Tulsa
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$26,124
$82,772 vs $56,648/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
80% lower
185.2 vs 941.9 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 348,547 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories. Tulsa wins 9 and Urban Honolulu wins 14. 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 Tulsa to Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $805,500 median home), income ($56,648 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 3,826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.