Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Tulsa?

Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Philadelphia vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 4% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$1,126

$786

+30% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,189

$847

+29% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,394

$1,045

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,265

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,400

$189,600

+18% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$60,698

$58,407

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

$46,670

+14% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

35.5 yr

+0.4 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

52.3%

52.0%

+0.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.6%

33.3%

+1.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

32.0 min

18.7 min

+13.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

917.1

948.9

+3% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

4,615.3

3,664.6

+21% in Philadelphia, PA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

60.1°F

+3.0°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

43.7 in

+4.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Tulsa, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.6

13.4

+38% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$27.15

+42% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / OK)

4.5%

+1.5 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

4.50%

+1.4 pp in OK

Philadelphia vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Tulsa?: Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).