Living Cost Compare
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 7% higher in Richmond, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,183
$786
+34% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,195
$847
+29% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,045
+24% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,447
$1,265
+13% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$328,100
$189,600
+42% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,671
$58,407
+7% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,460
$46,670
+9% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.5 yr
35.5 yr
+1.0 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
43.5%
52.0%
+8.5 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
33.3%
+10.8 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
22.1 min
18.7 min
+3.4 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
349
948.9
+172% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,240.2
3,664.6
+13% 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
58.9°F
60.1°F
+1.2°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
43.7 in
+0.1 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
13.4
+24% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$27.15
+15% in Tulsa, OK

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 (VA / OK)
5.3%
4.5%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
4.50%
+1.3 pp in VA

Richmond vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or Tulsa?
Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).