Living Cost Compare
Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 7% higher in Provo, UT. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,009
$786
+22% in Provo, UT
1 Bedroom
$978
$847
+13% in Provo, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,128
$1,045
+7% in Provo, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,265
+8% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$437,100
$189,600
+57% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,800
$58,407
+7% in Provo, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,010
$46,670
+3% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
23.7 yr
35.5 yr
+11.8 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
39.9%
52.0%
+12.1 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.0%
33.3%
+11.7 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
18.5 min
18.7 min
+0.2 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
205.7
948.9
+361% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
1,280.6
3,664.6
+186% 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
53.4°F
60.1°F
+6.7°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
19.8 in
43.7 in
+24.0 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
14.3
+7% in Tulsa, OK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.84
$31.25
+164% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Tulsa, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / OK)
6.1%
4.5%
+1.6 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
4.50%
about equal

Provo vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Tulsa?
Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).