Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 7% higher in Indianapolis, IN. 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.

Indianapolis, IN
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$933
$786
+16% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$847
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,045
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,265
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$189,600
+8% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$58,407
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$46,670
+5% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
55.3%
52.0%
+3.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
33.3%
+0.9 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
18.7 min
+5.6 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
948.9
+1% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,351.7
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
53.2°F
60.1°F
+6.9°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
43.7 in
+1.3 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
13.4
+26% in Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Tulsa, OK
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / OK)
7%
4.5%
+2.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in OK

Indianapolis vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Tulsa?
Indianapolis 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).