Living Cost Compare
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 29% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,301
$786
+40% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,323
$847
+36% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,462
$1,045
+29% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,715
$1,265
+26% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$377,800
$189,600
+50% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$82,424
$58,407
+29% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,990
$46,670
+10% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
35.5 yr
+0.8 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
51.2%
52.0%
+0.8 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
52.9%
33.3%
+19.6 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
23.4 min
18.7 min
+4.7 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
491.5
948.9
+93% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
2,838.4
3,664.6
+29% 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
60.6°F
60.1°F
+0.5°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
43.7 in
+2.3 in in Raleigh, NC

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)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.4
+11% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$27.15
+1% in Raleigh, NC

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 (NC / OK)
4.75%
4.5%
+0.3 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in OK

Raleigh vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Tulsa?
Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).