CostIndexUSA

St. Louis, MO vs Tulsa, OK Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableOK
Tulsa
89.2
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Tulsa is moderately cheaper than St. Louis — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Louis, you would need $75,000 in Tulsa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.7%
St. Louis
79
Tulsa
68.2
🛒 Groceries6.2%
St. Louis
100
Tulsa
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.3%
St. Louis
103.6
Tulsa
100.2
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
St. Louis
93.7
Tulsa
90.7
Utilities+5.7%
St. Louis
69.9
Tulsa
73.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tulsa, OK
$75,000
$5,000 less needed in Tulsa

Formula: salary × (89.2 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.9380. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

Tulsa, OK

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

St. Louis has 13.7% lower housing costs compared to Tulsa.

Income & Job Market

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

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).

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.