Median rent is 8% lower in Tulsa ($998/mo vs $1,083/mo). Buying is cheaper in Tulsa, where the median home runs $189,600 versus $215,100. Households earn more in Oklahoma City ($66,702 vs $58,407 a year).
City A
Oklahoma City, OK
City B
Tulsa, OK
How much would you need to earn in Tulsa, OK to maintain your standard of living from Oklahoma City, OK?
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 city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Tulsa at $998/mo compared to $1,083/mo in Oklahoma City (8% gap). Median home values are within 12% of each other: $215,100 in Oklahoma City and $189,600 in Tulsa.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Oklahoma's top income tax rate is 4.75% versus 4.75% in Oklahoma, so Tulsa is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.50% in Oklahoma and 4.50% in Oklahoma; Tulsa has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Oklahoma City
Income tax: 4.75%
Sales tax: 4.50%
Tulsa
Income tax: 4.75%
Sales tax: 4.50%
Tulsa has cleaner air on average: 34.0 AQI (Good) compared to 51.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Oklahoma City if you prioritize higher median household income ($66,702/yr).
Pick Tulsa if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 34.0).
Is Oklahoma City cheaper than Tulsa?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Oklahoma City vs Tulsa?
Median rent is $1,083/mo in Oklahoma City, OK and $998/mo in Tulsa, OK. Tulsa, OK has the lower rent by about 8%.
Which has higher salaries — Oklahoma City or Tulsa?
Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK. Oklahoma City, OK 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?
Tulsa, OK has better air quality on average: 34.0 AQI versus 51.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Oklahoma City or Tulsa?
Oklahoma's top income tax rate is 4.75% and Oklahoma's is 4.75%. Tulsa, OK has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Tulsa to match my Oklahoma City income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology