Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 17% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$815
$786
+4% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$847
+6% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,045
+3% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,265
+1% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$189,600
+28% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$58,407
+17% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$46,670
+10% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.5 yr
+0.9 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
52.0%
+6.1 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
33.3%
+12.9 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
18.7 min
+0.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
948.9
+96% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,664.6
+53% 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
62.1°F
60.1°F
+2.0°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
43.7 in
+10.6 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.3
+13% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$31.25
+30% 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 (AL / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Tulsa?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).