Living Cost Compare
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,407 in Tulsa, OK and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 45% higher in Washington, DC. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Tulsa, OK
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,763
+124% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$847
$1,885
+123% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,045
$1,949
+87% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,265
$2,249
+78% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$189,600
$724,600
+282% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$58,407
$106,287
+82% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$71,060
+52% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.5 yr
34.9 yr
+0.6 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
52.0%
41.1%
+10.9 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.3%
63.6%
+30.3 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
18.7 min
30.3 min
+11.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
948.9
936.3
+1% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,664.6
3,627.9
+1% 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
58.2°F
+1.9°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
43.7 in
39.7 in
+4.0 in in Tulsa, OK

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
25.4
+90% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$22.01
+19% 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 / DC)
4.5%
6%
+1.5 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in DC

Tulsa vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tulsa or Washington?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tulsa than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Tulsa versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Tulsa or Washington?
Tulsa is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).