Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Tulsa?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Rutland vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

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 Rutland, VT versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 6% higher in Tulsa, OK. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$893

$786

+12% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$856

$847

+1% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,045

+5% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,265

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$189,600

+7% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$58,407

+6% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,670

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

35.5 yr

+13.0 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

52.0%

+0.7 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

33.3%

+1.1 pp in Tulsa, OK

Avg Commute

14.7 min

18.7 min

+4.0 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

948.9

+95% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

3,973.3

3,664.6

+8% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

60.1°F

+15.5°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

43.7 in

+3.3 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

14.3

+41% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$31.25

+20% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / OK)

4.5%

+1.5 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

4.50%

+4.3 pp in VT

Rutland vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Tulsa?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).