Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Tulsa?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).

Portland vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 34% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$786

+39% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$847

+41% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,045

+40% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,265

+38% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$189,600

+66% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$58,407

+34% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$46,670

+23% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

35.5 yr

+3.1 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.8%

52.0%

+0.8 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

33.3%

+20.2 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

18.7 min

+5.9 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

732.3

948.9

+30% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

5,609.4

3,664.6

+35% in Portland, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.5°F

60.1°F

+5.6°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

43.7 in

+0.9 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Portland, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

13.4

+18% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$27.15

+32% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / OK)

None

4.5%

+4.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

4.50%

+5.4 pp in OR

Portland vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Tulsa?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).