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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Oklahoma beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Tulsa stands out at 89 on the index, with rent of $1,207/month and household income of $58,407. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
#1 Ranked: Tulsa — cost index 89, rent $1,207/mo, income $58,407
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Tulsa | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $37,747 |
2Oklahoma | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $37,747 |
3Norman | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $37,747 |
4Broken Arrow | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $37,747 |
The numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Oklahoma beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Tulsa stands out at 89 on the index, with rent of $1,207/month and household income of $58,407. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
So, Tulsa. Cost index of 89 — a detail that tends to get overlooked — , rent at $1,207/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $58,407, which is below the national median. You get the picture. That's more or less in line with the region.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. And for the typical household, zoom out and it's complicated. In Tulsa, the healthcare index sits at 92 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about. An outlier in the best sense.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
The #1 spot goes to Tulsa, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,207/month — saving renters $8,256 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 73, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 92. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
What does daily life actually cost in Oklahoma? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 73) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,702 and homes at $203,329 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
Look, Norman earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $65,060 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $257,977 — $209,393 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 81, while Healthcare trails at 95.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
Why Broken Arrow ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 100 on the cost index, residents save roughly 12% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,671/month while the median household pulls in $85,220/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 92, though Healthcare (103) lags behind. Home prices average $283,474 — $183,896 below the national median.
Tulsa ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $58,407.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Tulsa, rent would consume about 29% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
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 $50K in Tulsa is approximately $37,747/year ($3,146/month). After median rent of $1,207/month, you'd have roughly $23,263/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.