Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Tulsa?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Tulsa, OK's $1,020, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Tulsa?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/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 $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 11% higher in Tulsa, OK. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$741

$786

+6% in Tulsa, OK

1 Bedroom

$768

$847

+10% in Tulsa, OK

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,045

+2% in Tulsa, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,265

+8% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$189,600

+47% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$58,407

+12% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$46,670

+0% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

52.0%

+1.9 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

33.3%

+11.0 pp in Tulsa, OK

Avg Commute

18.7 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

948.9

+22% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

3,664.6

+1% in Evansville, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.4°F

60.1°F

+3.7°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

43.7 in

+1.6 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

13.4

+26% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$27.15

+98% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Evansville, IN

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Evansville, IN

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / OK)

4.5%

+2.5 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

4.50%

+1.5 pp in OK

Evansville vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Tulsa?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Tulsa, OK's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Tulsa?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).