Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Tulsa?

Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Tulsa?

Montgomery 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).

Montgomery vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 5% higher in Tulsa, OK. 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.

Montgomery, AL

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$864

$786

+9% in Montgomery, AL

1 Bedroom

$831

$847

+2% in Tulsa, OK

2 Bedroom

$982

$1,045

+6% in Tulsa, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,172

$1,265

+8% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$148,500

$189,600

+28% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$55,687

$58,407

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,950

$46,670

+4% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.2 yr

35.5 yr

+0.7 yr in Montgomery, AL

Homeownership

54.3%

52.0%

+2.3 pp in Montgomery, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

33.3%

+0.2 pp in Montgomery, AL

Avg Commute

20.5 min

18.7 min

+1.8 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

605.5

948.9

+57% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

2,258.3

3,664.6

+62% 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

65.1°F

60.1°F

+5.0°F in Montgomery, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.1 in

43.7 in

+9.3 in in Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, 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

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / OK)

4.5%

+0.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

4.50%

+0.5 pp in AL

Montgomery vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Tulsa?: Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Tulsa?: Montgomery 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).