Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 12% higher in Oklahoma City, 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.

Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$795
$786
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$882
$847
+4% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,045
+4% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,265
+7% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$189,600
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$58,407
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$46,670
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.5 yr
+0.5 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
52.0%
+7.1 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
33.3%
+0.7 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.7 min
+3.5 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
948.9
+38% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
2,929.1
3,664.6
+25% 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 Oklahoma City, 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

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

Oklahoma City vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City 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).