Living Cost Compare
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Tulsa, OK versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,407 in Tulsa, OK and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 36% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Tulsa, OK
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,496
+90% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$847
$1,357
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,045
$1,559
+49% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,857
+47% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$189,600
$366,300
+93% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,407
$90,685
+55% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$49,430
+6% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.5 yr
37.4 yr
+1.9 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
52.0%
64.9%
+12.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.3%
40.4%
+7.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
18.7 min
23.2 min
+4.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
948.9
96.9
+90% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,664.6
1,664.9
+55% 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
60.1°F
59.9°F
+0.2°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
43.7 in
44.3 in
+0.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
17.6
+32% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$23.66
+13% 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 (OK / VA)
4.5%
5.3%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Tulsa vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tulsa or Virginia Beach?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tulsa than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Tulsa versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Tulsa or Virginia Beach?
Tulsa is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).