Tulsa vs Seattle: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Tulsa, Oklahoma compare to Seattle, Washington? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Tulsa is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 80% lower in Tulsa compared to Seattle, while rent is 51% lower. WA has no state income tax.
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $174,200 | $879,900 | -80.2% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 | $1,945 | -50.7% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $116,068 | -51.2% |
| Per Capita Income | $36,490 | $77,616 | -53.0% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 4.8% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 9.0% | 9.3% | -3.3% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 411,938 | 734,603 | -43.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Tulsa
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Seattle
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Tulsa costs $174,200 compared to $879,900 in Seattle — a 80% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $958/mo in Tulsa vs $1,945/mo in Seattle.
- Income: Median household income is $56,648 in Tulsa and $116,068 in Seattle.
- Taxes: Washington has no state income tax, while Oklahoma has a 4.75% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).