Oklahoma City vs Tulsa
Oklahoma City, OK · Tulsa, OK
Tulsa is 2% cheaper than Oklahoma City overall.
Home Price
Oklahoma: $230,000
Tulsa: $205,000
Monthly Rent
Oklahoma: $848/mo
Tulsa: $875/mo
COL Index
Oklahoma: 88
Tulsa: 86
Median Income
Oklahoma: $61,200
Tulsa: $57,400
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Oklahoma City has the same purchasing power as $97,727 in Tulsa — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Tulsa cost 11% more (-$25,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Oklahoma City saves you $27/month — $324 per year. Median rent: $848/mo in Oklahoma City vs $875/mo in Tulsa.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Oklahoma City owners pay roughly $2,070/year in property taxes vs $1,845/year in Tulsa. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $61,200 in Oklahoma City and $57,400 in Tulsa. Tulsa residents earn 6% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 22 minutes in Oklahoma City vs 21 minutes in Tulsa. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Oklahoma City | Equivalent in Tulsa | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,864 | -$1,136 |
| $75,000 | $73,295 | -$1,705 |
| $100,000 | $97,727 | -$2,273 |
| $150,000 | $146,591 | -$3,409 |
| $200,000 | $195,455 | -$4,545 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Oklahoma City Calculators
Tulsa Calculators
Oklahoma City vs Tulsa: Common Questions
Is Oklahoma City or Tulsa cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Tulsa is cheaper overall. Oklahoma City has a COL index of 88 while Tulsa scores 86 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Oklahoma City and Tulsa?
The median home price in Oklahoma City is $230,000 vs $205,000 in Tulsa — a difference of $25,000 (11%).
What salary do I need in Tulsa to match my Oklahoma City income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Oklahoma City is equivalent to $97,727 in Tulsa in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Tulsa has a lower property tax rate (0.9% vs 0.9%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $1,845/year vs $2,070/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.