Tulsa, OK Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Tulsa, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Tulsa →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Tulsa, Oklahoma has a population of about 411,938. Typical household income is $56,648 per year, below the median across the cities in our dataset (-21%).
Tulsa's housing market shows a median home value of $174,200, below the multi-city benchmark (-47%), alongside median rent of $958 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.
Home prices in Tulsa run about 3.1× the typical household income — among the more affordable ratios we track, and a favorable starting point for buyers. Home values near Tulsa rose 3.04% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Tulsa runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $958/mo in Tulsa would take 20.3% of your income.
$458/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($174,200) would take 19.7% of your income toward principal & interest.
$392/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Tulsa
Median home value is $174,200 and median gross rent is $958/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Tulsa rose 3.04% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,217/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Tulsa's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Tulsa reported a violent crime rate of 833.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Tulsa
Planning a move to Tulsa? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tulsa, OK?
- For a quick read on Tulsa: homes carry a median value of $174,200, rent runs a median $958 monthly, and household income is a median $56,648, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tulsa?
- Tulsa's median rent of $958/month works out to roughly $38,320 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Tulsa.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Tulsa?
- Renting in Tulsa at the median $958/month calls for about $38,320 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $174,200 takes roughly $39,856 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Tulsa safe?
- In 2025, Tulsa reported 833.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Tulsa →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Tulsa's.