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Tulsa, OK

Cost of Living & Affordability: Tulsa, OK

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Tulsa, OK

Cap Rate
4.64%
Median Price
$195K
Rent/Mo
$1,100
1% Rule
0.56%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Tulsa's price-to-income ratio is 3.9x — homes cost 3.9 times the local median household income of $50,200. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Tulsa (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,297/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,508. The median rent of $1,100/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Tulsa is $50,200, with a population of 413,066 growing at 0.6% per year. Tulsa is a mid-sized city with enough economic diversity to weather most downturns, though it may be more dependent on a few key employers or industries. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Tulsa is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

Full Tulsa Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

More Tulsa Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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