City profile
Tulsa, OK cost of living
OK · BLS RPP 90.5
Overall RPP
90.5
US = 100
Housing RPP
70.6
Housing component
Goods RPP
93.5
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,128/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Tulsa, OK sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#67 of 67
-9.5 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-7.9
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#64 of 67
-478/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Tulsa, OK
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Tulsa, OK metro.
Moved in
54,540
people · 28,455 households
Moved out
48,456
people · 25,652 households
Net
+6,084
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#18 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+6,188
median -104 people
Largest flow share
3% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Oklahoma County, OK 1,437
- Muskogee County, OK 1,060
- Washington County, OK 793
- Mayes County, OK 784
- Payne County, OK 779
Where residents moved to
- Oklahoma County, OK 1,492
- Muskogee County, OK 961
- Washington County, OK 863
- Mayes County, OK 838
- Payne County, OK 653
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Tulsa, OK?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Tulsa, OK | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,250 | $50,000 x (90.5/100) |
| $75,000 | $67,875 | $75,000 x (90.5/100) |
| $100,000 | $90,500 | $100,000 x (90.5/100) |
| $125,000 | $113,125 | $125,000 x (90.5/100) |
| $150,000 | $135,750 | $150,000 x (90.5/100) |
| $200,000 | $181,000 | $200,000 x (90.5/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Oklahoma income tax 0.25%-4.75%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tulsa, OK?
- Tulsa, OK has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 90.5 (US average = 100). It is 9.5% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Tulsa, OK?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $90,500 in Tulsa, OK to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Tulsa, OK?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is approximately $1,128 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Tulsa, OK?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 54,540 people moved into the Tulsa, OK metro and 48,456 moved out — a net gain of roughly 6,084 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Oklahoma County, OK.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Tulsa, OK, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Tulsa, OK
Side-by-side cost of living and the equivalent salary you'd need — pick a destination.