Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Here's the number your real estate agent won't mention: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. T…
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
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.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Oklahoma is one of the cheaper options here. And for the typical household, rent is $1,255/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 89. Income sits at $66,702. It's fine. Not great, not bad (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
Here's Norman by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 92. Rent: $1,289/month. Income: $65,060/year. Home price: $257,977. Population: 130,046. The strongest category is Housing at 81; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,272 per year vs. the national median. There's real money on the table here.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
Here's Broken Arrow by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 100. Rent: $1,671/month. Income: $85,220/year. Home price: $283,474. Population: 119,194. The strongest category is Utilities at 92; the most expensive is Healthcare at 103. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,688 per year vs. the national median. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
#1 Ranked: Tulsa — cost index 89, rent $1,207/mo, income $58,407
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Here's the number your real estate agent won't mention: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Oklahoma using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Tulsa comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
So, Tulsa. Cost index of 89 — we had to double-check this one — , rent at $1,207/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $58,407, which is below the national median. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters.
Before celebrating, check the next metric: Here's the state-level backdrop: Oklahoma averages a 93 cost index, $1,356/mo rent, and $68,847 income across 4 cities. That's $539 less than the national rent average. Energy economy and persistently low costs — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Tulsa leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And for many people, 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. Honestly, this is the kind of city that makes you wonder why more people aren't paying attention. The numbers are right there — rent that doesn't eat your paycheck, costs that actually leave room for a life. And yet it barely shows up in the national conversation about affordable places to live. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that's what keeps it affordable.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Tulsa | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $30,472 |
2Oklahoma | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $30,472 |
3Norman | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $30,472 |
4Broken Arrow | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $30,472 |
Tulsa ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $58,407.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Tulsa, rent would consume about 36% 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 $40K in Tulsa is approximately $30,472/year ($2,539/month). After median rent of $1,207/month, you'd have roughly $15,988/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.