Median rent is 35% lower in Tulsa ($1,052/mo vs $1,620/mo). Buying is cheaper in Tulsa, where the median home runs $205,300 versus $408,000. Households earn more in Mesa ($82,752 vs $59,838 a year).
City A
Mesa, AZ
City B
Tulsa, OK
How much would you need to earn in Tulsa, OK to maintain your standard of living from Mesa, AZ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Mesa
Arizona
Tulsa
Oklahoma
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Tulsa — median rent of $1,052/mo versus $1,620/mo in Mesa, a 35% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Mesa: the median home is $408,000 versus $205,300 in Tulsa — 50% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Mesa
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Tulsa
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Mesa has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 44.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Mesa if you prioritize higher median household income ($82,752/yr).
Pick Tulsa if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,052/mo median).
Pick Mesa if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is Mesa cheaper than Tulsa?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Mesa vs Tulsa?
Median rent is $1,620/mo in Mesa, AZ and $1,052/mo in Tulsa, OK. Tulsa, OK has the lower rent by about 35%.
Which has higher salaries — Mesa or Tulsa?
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa, AZ and $59,838 in Tulsa, OK. Mesa, AZ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Mesa, AZ has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 44.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Mesa or Tulsa?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Tulsa to match my Mesa income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
