CostIndexUSA

Columbus, OH vs Tulsa, OK Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableOK
Tulsa
89.2
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Tulsa is moderately cheaper than Columbus — 6.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $74,700 in Tulsa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing22.4%
Columbus
87.9
Tulsa
68.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbus
93.6
Tulsa
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.6%
Columbus
103.9
Tulsa
100.2
🏥 Healthcare3.5%
Columbus
94
Tulsa
90.7
Utilities22.6%
Columbus
95.5
Tulsa
73.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbus to see what you'd need to earn in Tulsa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tulsa, OK
$74,700
$5,300 less needed in Tulsa

Formula: salary × (89.2 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9340. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Tulsa, OK

Median Home Price
$243,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Columbus has 22.4% lower housing costs compared to Tulsa.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Tulsa, OK

Median Household Income
$65,600
Per Capita Income
$37,400
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
413,066
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareFinanceManufacturingAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Tulsa, OK
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.