City Comparison

College Station vs Tulsa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

College Station

Texas
87
Below Average
$314,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$50,900
Median Income

Tulsa

Oklahoma
85
Very Affordable
$175,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$48,278
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

Living in Tulsa costs 2.4% less than College Station. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in College Station, you would need $73,276 in Tulsa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
82
College Station
63
Tulsa
Groceries
93
College Station
95
Tulsa
Utilities
96
College Station
92
Tulsa
Transportation
85
College Station
98
Tulsa
Healthcare
90
College Station
91
Tulsa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $73,276 in Tulsa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tulsa equals $76,765 in College Station.

Living in College Station vs Tulsa

Housing Costs

College Station's housing index of 82 is higher Tulsa's 63, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $175,000. The $139,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,036 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $950/mo in Tulsa, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 95 in Tulsa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $451/month in Tulsa. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 92 in Tulsa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $368 in Tulsa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 91 in Tulsa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $48,278 in Tulsa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $56,798 respectively. College Station residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,126/month in Tulsa. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Tulsa, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tulsa is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in College Station has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,276 in Tulsa, based on the cost of living difference.
College Station's housing index is 82 with median homes at $314,000, while Tulsa's is 63 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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