Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 63% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 59% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$786
+50% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$847
+65% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,045
+65% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,265
+61% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$189,600
+86% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$58,407
+59% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$46,670
+37% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
35.5 yr
+4.2 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
52.0%
+13.5 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
33.3%
+26.8 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
18.7 min
+12.5 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
948.9
+59% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,962.2
3,664.6
+8% in San Francisco, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.3°F
60.1°F
+2.8°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
43.7 in
+20.1 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.43/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in San Francisco, CA

Area: San Francisco vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.4
+60% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$27.15
+31% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / OK)
7.25%
4.5%
+2.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.50%
+8.8 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Tulsa?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).