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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
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…
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.
What does daily life actually cost in Tulsa? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And with some exceptions, on the category level, Housing (index 70) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 94) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $58,407 and homes at $212,757 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
On a $40K salary, the key number is $1,000/month — for better or worse — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Tulsa ($1,207/mo, 36%), Oklahoma ($1,255/mo, 38%), Norman ($1,289/mo, 39%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $30,472 to $30,472/year across these top picks (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
You'd think the cheapest city would also be the smallest. Not here. 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.
Against the national baseline, though: Across Oklahoma, the average cost of living index is 79 — 32 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. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
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 70, 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
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
Frankly, Dive into Tulsa's numbers: cost index 70 (41 points below national average), rent $1,207/month, income $58,407, and a home price of $212,757. And as a general rule, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 70, while Healthcare runs 94. With 411,894 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Dive into Oklahoma's numbers: cost index 73 (38 points below national average), rent $1,255/month, income $66,702, and a home price of $203,329. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 73, while Healthcare runs 95. As a major city with 702,767 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
At $1,289/month for rent and a cost index of 75, Norman is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $65,060. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
Why Broken Arrow ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 13% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,671/month while the median household pulls in $85,220/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 98, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $283,474 — $183,896 below the national median.
| 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 70 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 70 and rent of $1,207/mo, while Broken Arrow (ranked #4) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,671/mo — a 28-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.