Oakland vs Tulsa: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Oakland, CA and Tulsa, OK, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricOakland, CATulsa, OK
Population437,825411,938
Median household income$94,389$56,648
Median home value$883,800$174,200
Median rent (/mo)$1,849$958

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Oakland, CA and Tulsa, OK comes down to what you value most. Tulsa has the lower median home value, and Tulsa has the lower median rent.

Oakland has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Oakland or Tulsa?
By median home value, Tulsa is the cheaper of the two ($174,200 vs $883,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Oakland or Tulsa?
Median household income is $94,389 in Oakland versus $56,648 in Tulsa, per the US Census Bureau.

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