Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Oklahoma City compared to Tulsa? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Oklahoma City | Metric | Tulsa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Cost of Living Index | 86 | -2.3% |
| $230,000 | Median Home Price | $205,000 | -10.9% |
| $848 | Median Monthly Rent | $875 | +3.2% |
| $61,200 | Median Household Income | $57,400 | -6.2% |
| 0.9% | Property Tax Rate | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 3.3% | Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | +15.2% |
| 22 min | Average Commute | 21 min | -4.5% |
| 35.3 | Median Age | 35.8 | +1.4% |
| 1,450,000 | Metro Population | 1,030,000 | -29.0% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Oklahoma City costs $1,403/month (PITI) compared to $1,250/month in Tulsa — a difference of $153/month or $1,836/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.8x in Oklahoma City versus 3.6x in Tulsa, suggesting Tulsa is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.0 years to save a down payment in Oklahoma City compared to 4.8 years in Tulsa.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Oklahoma City | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $61,200 | $57,400 |
| State Income Tax | $2,369 | $2,189 |
| Federal Income Tax | $5,215 | $4,759 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,681 | $4,391 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,070/yr | $1,845/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Total Tax Burden | $12,265 (20.0%) | $11,339 (19.8%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $48,935 | $46,061 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $12,265 in Oklahoma City (20.0% effective) versus $11,339 in Tulsa (19.8% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $48,935 in Oklahoma City and $46,061 in Tulsa. Property taxes add $2,070/year on the median Oklahoma City home versus $1,845/year in Tulsa.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $61,200 in Oklahoma City (COL 88) and relocate to Tulsa (COL 86), you would need $59,809 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $1,391 and still maintain your lifestyle in Tulsa.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Oklahoma City is 22 minutes versus 21 minutes in Tulsa, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Oklahoma City's lower unemployment rate of 3.3% versus 3.8% suggests a stronger job market. Tulsa skews slightly older with a median age of 35.8 vs 35.3 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is 2.3% more expensive than Tulsa overall. Oklahoma City has a cost of living index of 88 compared to 86 for Tulsa (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $230,000 in Oklahoma City vs $205,000 in Tulsa.
The median home price in Oklahoma City is $230,000, which is $25,000 more than Tulsa's median of $205,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $848/month in Oklahoma City vs $875/month in Tulsa, a difference of $27/month or $324/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $61,200 salary in Oklahoma City is equivalent to $59,809 in Tulsa. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Oklahoma City's COL index of 88 vs Tulsa's 86. Conversely, $57,400 in Tulsa equals $58,735 in Oklahoma City.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $12,265 (20.0% effective rate) in Oklahoma City vs $11,339 (19.8% effective rate) in Tulsa. Property taxes on the median home are $2,070/year in Oklahoma City (0.9% rate) vs $1,845/year in Tulsa (0.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 4.5% in Oklahoma and 4.5% in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City median household income: $61,200/yr. Tulsa median household income: $57,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $848 in Oklahoma City vs $875 in Tulsa. Annualized that is $10,176 vs $10,500.
Tulsa offers a lower cost of living (index 86 vs 88), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Oklahoma City typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Oklahoma City and Tulsa numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Oklahoma City vs Tulsa cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .