Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Tulsa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Tulsa?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 11% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$797

$786

+1% in Albuquerque, NM

1 Bedroom

$889

$847

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,045

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,265

+13% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$189,600

+29% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$58,407

+11% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$46,670

+3% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

35.5 yr

+3.2 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

52.0%

+9.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

33.3%

+5.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.7 min

+3.5 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

948.9

+21% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

3,664.6

+23% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.2°F

60.1°F

+2.9°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

43.7 in

+34.3 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Tulsa, OK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.4

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$27.15

+128% in Tulsa, OK

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / OK)

4.875%

4.5%

+0.4 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.50%

+1.4 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Tulsa?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).