Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Tulsa?

Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Naperville vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 61% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$1,713

$786

+54% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,594

$847

+47% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,889

$1,045

+45% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,446

$1,265

+48% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$509,900

$189,600

+63% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$150,937

$58,407

+61% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$46,670

+15% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

35.5 yr

+4.6 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

74.3%

52.0%

+22.3 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

33.3%

+38.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

31.4 min

18.7 min

+12.7 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

85.7

948.9

+1007% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

892.2

3,664.6

+311% 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

49.9°F

60.1°F

+10.2°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

43.7 in

+6.8 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

13.4

+44% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$27.15

+76% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / OK)

6.25%

4.5%

+1.8 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

4.50%

+0.5 pp in IL

Naperville vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Tulsa?: Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).