Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Tulsa?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 32% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

—

$786

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$847

+26% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,045

+54% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,265

+45% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$189,600

+72% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$58,407

+32% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$46,670

+25% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.5 yr

+0.2 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

46.0%

52.0%

+6.0 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

33.3%

+8.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

948.9

+0% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,664.6

+9% in Tulsa, OK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

60.1°F

+9.9°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

43.7 in

+28.1 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.94/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.4

+17% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$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 Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / OK)

2.9%

4.5%

+1.6 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.50%

+0.1 pp in OK

Aurora vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Tulsa?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).