Cost of Living in Tulsa, OK
Tulsa, OK — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Tulsa, OK to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Tulsa, OK?
With a price level of 89.2 (U.S. average = 100), Tulsa, OK is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 32% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 26% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 5% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Tulsa, OK vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.2 | −10.8% |
| Housing | 68.2 | −31.8% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 73.9 | −26.1% |
| Other services | 95.5 | −4.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Tulsa, OK
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $924 | $36,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $976 | $39,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,204 | $48,160/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,586 | $63,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,835 | $73,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Tulsa, OK
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Tulsa, OK | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,700 | $29,804 |
| $60,000 | $53,500 | $43,305 |
| $80,000 | $71,400 | $56,392 |
| $100,000 | $89,200 | $68,114 |
| $150,000 | $133,800 | $97,243 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Tulsa, OK's median wage of $46,670 takes home about $3,177 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $976, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,201 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Tulsa, OK
- Federal income tax$3,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,894
- Medicare (1.45%)$677
- Oklahoma income tax$1,555
- Take-home pay$38,125
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Tulsa, OK
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Oklahoma cities
Half of Oklahoma’s 1,707,680 workers earn less than $45,600 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $32,740–$66,000 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tulsa, OK stretches a paycheck furthest, while Fort Smith, AR is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $47,230 | 90.4 | $1,002 | 31% | $2,210 | $42,639 |
| Tulsa, OK | $46,670 | 89.2 | $976 | 31% | $2,201 | $42,734 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $39,560 | 85.9 | $714 | 26% | $2,014 | $38,110 |
| Lawton, OK | $42,090 | 85.9 | $782 | 27% | $2,106 | $40,319 |
| Enid, OK | $40,500 | 84.3 | $799 | 29% | $1,988 | $39,688 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Tulsa, OK vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | 89.2 | $976 | $46,670 | 458,730 |
| Albany, NY | 99.6 | $1,417 | $58,460 | 449,410 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 111.0 | $2,016 | $57,220 | 446,380 |
| New Orleans, LA | 92.6 | $1,105 | $47,290 | 445,550 |
| Fresno, CA | 102.2 | $1,315 | $46,910 | 476,890 |
| Greenville, SC | 93.3 | $1,155 | $46,580 | 434,900 |
| Knoxville, TN | 92.6 | $1,126 | $47,080 | 424,600 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tulsa, OK expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Tulsa, OK metro area are 89.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 68.2%. It is the #307 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Tulsa, OK?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,528 in Tulsa, OK (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,670.
Can you afford Tulsa, OK on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,670 median wage takes home about $3,177 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $976 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Tulsa, OK are $924 for a studio, $976 for one bedroom, $1,204 for two bedrooms and $1,586 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Tulsa, OK
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $96,150
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $93,240
- Accountant and Auditor — $81,320
- Human Resources Specialist — $63,490
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer User Support Specialist — $50,940
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $48,410
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $48,220
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,320
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $84,790
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,820
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $39,440
- Nursing Assistant — $36,720
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $28,140
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $36,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,750
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,350
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,780
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $32,170
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $28,770
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $61,840
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $54,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,600
- Retail Salesperson — $29,810
- Cashier — $29,180
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $62,390
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,250
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $40,700
- Office Clerks, General — $40,380
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,980
- Customer Service Representative — $38,560
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,310
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,000
- Electrician — $62,280
- Construction Laborer — $43,200
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,720
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,410
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,760
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,260
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $56,210
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $53,550
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,740
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,790
- Light Truck Driver — $39,890
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,980
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,270