Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 18% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$786
+52% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$847
+39% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,045
+31% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,265
+34% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$189,600
+47% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$58,407
+18% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$46,670
+14% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.5 yr
+13.5 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
50.3%
52.0%
+1.7 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
33.3%
+24.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
18.7 min
+0.9 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
948.9
+191% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,664.6
+81% 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
54.9°F
60.1°F
+5.2°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
43.7 in
+0.6 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.3
+26% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$31.25
+5% 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 (DE / OK)
None
4.5%
+4.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.50%
+2.1 pp in DE

Newark vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Tulsa?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).