Living Cost Compare
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,302 in Tampa, FL and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 18% higher in Tampa, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Tampa, FL
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,242
$786
+37% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,324
$847
+36% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,673
$1,045
+38% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$1,265
+27% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,300
$189,600
+49% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$71,302
$58,407
+18% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,940
$46,670
+5% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
35.5 yr
+0.1 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
50.2%
52.0%
+1.8 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.6%
33.3%
+11.3 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
24.7 min
18.7 min
+6.0 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
443.2
948.9
+114% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
1,473.2
3,664.6
+149% 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
73.4°F
60.1°F
+13.3°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
46.3 in
43.7 in
+2.6 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.77/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Tulsa, OK

Area: Florida vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
13.4
+12% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$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 (FL / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in OK

Tampa vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tampa than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Tulsa?
Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax 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).