Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Tulsa?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Omaha, NE versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 20% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$908

$786

+13% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$984

$847

+14% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,045

+12% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,265

+12% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$189,600

+18% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$58,407

+20% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$46,670

+6% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.5 yr

+0.2 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

57.7%

52.0%

+5.7 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

33.3%

+7.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

18.7 min

+0.9 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

948.9

+164% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

3,153.5

3,664.6

+16% 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

51.1°F

60.1°F

+9.0°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

43.7 in

+13.1 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — Metro Transit (Omaha) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

13.4

+2% in Omaha, NE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$27.15

+75% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Omaha, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Omaha, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / OK)

5.5%

4.5%

+1.0 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

4.50%

+0.0 pp in NE

Omaha vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Tulsa?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).