Sioux City vs Tulsa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Sioux City
Tulsa
💡 The Verdict
Tulsa is 8% cheaper than Sioux City overall. A $75,000 salary in Sioux City is equivalent to $69,293 in Tulsa.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Sioux City (left) vs Tulsa (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Sioux City versus Tulsa. Differences shown from Sioux City perspective.
| Item | Sioux City | Tulsa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $840/mo | $710/mo | +$130.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,170/mo | $950/mo | +$220.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,490/mo | $1,260/mo | +$230.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.36 | $2.80 | $-0.44 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.71 | $3.47 | +$0.24 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.04 | $3.03 | +$0.01 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.43 | $5.24 | +$0.19 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.11 | $3.35 | $-0.24 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.81 | $13.48 | +$1.33 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $69,293 in Tulsa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tulsa equals $81,176 in Sioux City.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Iowa details → · Oklahoma details →
Reading These Numbers: Sioux City (92) vs Tulsa (85)
Sioux City at 92 is 8% below the US average, while Tulsa at 85 is 15% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Sioux City, the composite index of 92 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 85, followed by groceries (89), utilities (92), transportation (90), and healthcare (95). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,170/mo in Sioux City and $950/mo in Tulsa, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,640.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $13,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $101,000.0 difference in median home prices between Sioux City and Tulsa translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Sioux City vs Tulsa
Choosing between Sioux City and Tulsa involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Sioux City against Tulsa, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.