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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Oklahoma's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Tulsa at index 89, where median rent of $1,207/month saves renters $8,256/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Oklahoma's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Tulsa at index 89, where median rent of $1,207/month saves renters $8,256/year versus the national median.
Why Tulsa ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,207/month while the median household pulls in $58,407/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 73, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $212,757 — $254,613 below the national median.
Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. Across Oklahoma, the average cost of living index is 93 — 19 points below the national median. Known for energy economy and persistently low costs, the state offers 4 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,356/month. That's $539 less than the national average of $1,895. On a teacher's salary, this difference is the line between paycheck-to-paycheck and comfortable.
Bottom line: Tulsa leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Tulsa — cost index 89, rent $1,207/mo, income $58,407
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
Tulsa earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $58,407 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $212,757 — $254,613 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 73, while Healthcare trails at 92. The definition of value.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Here's Oklahoma by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 89. Rent: $1,255/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — . Income: $66,702/year. Home price: $203,329. Population: 702,767. The strongest category is Housing at 73; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,680 per year vs. the national median. This alone could tip the scales.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
The #3 spot goes to Norman, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,289/month — saving renters $7,272 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 81, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
The #4 spot goes to Broken Arrow, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,671/month — saving renters $2,688 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 92, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 103. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Tulsa | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $22,912 |
2Oklahoma | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $22,912 |
3Norman | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $22,912 |
4Broken Arrow | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $22,912 |
Tulsa ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $58,407.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Tulsa, rent would consume about 48% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Tulsa (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,207/mo, while Broken Arrow (ranked #4) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,671/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Tulsa is $1,207/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $688 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.75% state income tax, estimated take-home on $30K in Tulsa is approximately $22,912/year ($1,909/month). After median rent of $1,207/month, you'd have roughly $8,428/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Tulsa is $212,757, which is 3.6× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Oklahoma has a 4.75% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.97%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.82%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.