Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 10% higher in Norman, OK. Both cities are in Oklahoma, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$820
$786
+4% in Norman, OK
1 Bedroom
$863
$847
+2% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,045
+1% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,265
+8% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$189,600
+21% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$58,407
+10% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$46,670
+1% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
35.5 yr
+3.9 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
52.7%
52.0%
+0.7 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
33.3%
+12.9 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.7 min
+3.5 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
948.9
+253% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
2,294.1
3,664.6
+60% 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
61.5°F
60.1°F
+1.4°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
43.7 in
+7.2 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
13.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$27.15
about equal

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 (OK / OK)
4.5%
4.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
4.50%
about equal

Norman vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Tulsa?
Neither — both are in Oklahoma, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).