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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Oklahoma is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Tulsa leads at an index of 89 with rent at just $1,207/month — 36% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 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 — make of that what you will — 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.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Why Oklahoma ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And most of the time, at 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,255/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — while the median household pulls in $66,702/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 73, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $203,329 — $264,041 below the national median.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
What does daily life actually cost in Norman? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 81) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $65,060 and homes at $257,977 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons. Not even close to the national average.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
A closer look at Broken Arrow: the cost index of 100 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Utilities index of 92 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 103 (weakest). Median rent is $1,671/month — 12% below the national median — while household income sits at $85,220, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (that's pre-tax, of course).
#1 Ranked: Tulsa — cost index 89, rent $1,207/mo, income $58,407
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Oklahoma is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Tulsa leads at an index of 89 with rent at just $1,207/month — 36% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
What does daily life actually cost in Tulsa? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. 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 $58,407 — worth pausing on — and homes at $212,757 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
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.
Tulsa ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $58,407.
Tulsa, OK has the lowest transportation index at 84, compared to the national average of 100.
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.
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.