Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 5% higher in Tulsa, OK. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$802
$786
+2% in Columbia, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$847
+17% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,045
+10% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,265
+5% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$189,600
+22% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$58,407
+5% in Tulsa, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$46,670
+1% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.5 yr
+6.8 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
47.3%
52.0%
+4.7 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
33.3%
+12.8 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
18.7 min
+1.3 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
948.9
+23% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,265.1
3,664.6
+12% 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
64.9°F
60.1°F
+4.8°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
43.7 in
+1.7 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
14.3
+8% in Columbia, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$31.25
+7% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in SC

Columbia vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Tulsa?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).