Is it cheaper to live in Tucson or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Tucson versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Tucson or Tulsa?

Tucson is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Tucson vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Tucson, AZ versus $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $54,546 in Tucson, AZ and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 7% higher in Tulsa, OK. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Tucson, AZ

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$795

$786

+1% in Tucson, AZ

1 Bedroom

$891

$847

+5% in Tucson, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,146

$1,045

+9% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,520

$1,265

+17% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$242,200

$189,600

+22% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$54,546

$58,407

+7% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,760

$46,670

+2% in Tucson, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.6 yr

35.5 yr

+0.9 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

51.7%

52.0%

+0.3 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.2%

33.3%

+3.1 pp in Tulsa, OK

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.7 min

+3.5 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

645.8

948.9

+47% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

3,460

3,664.6

+6% 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

70.2°F

60.1°F

+10.1°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

11.6 in

43.7 in

+32.1 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Tucson, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

13.4

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$27.15

+21% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Tucson, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / OK)

5.6%

4.5%

+1.1 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

4.50%

+2.0 pp in OK

Tucson vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tucson or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tucson than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Tucson versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Tucson or Tulsa?: Tucson is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).