TulsaMoney Index August 2026
"Where remote workers cash in."
Tulsa — Money Index — Key Facts
- 7% of Land Is Parks. Only about 7% of Tulsa's land is parkland — well below the big-city median. Outdoor recreation costs more here.
- Financial Stress: 48/100. Money stress in Tulsa sits at 48/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- Tulsa Quirk. Tulsa Remote has paid thousands of remote workers to relocate.
- Cost of Living: 85. Tulsa is roughly 15% cheaper than the typical US city. A $75k paycheck here spends like $88k somewhere average.
- Happiness Score: 68/100. Residents rate life in Tulsa a 68/100 — roughly the US average.
- 55% Own Their Home. Only 55% of Tulsa households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- 20-Minute Commute. Tulsa's one-way commute is just 20 minutes — 7 minutes shorter than the US average. That's ~153 hours a year behind the wheel instead of ~207.
- Median Household: $55k. Tulsa households earn about $55k — roughly 27% below the US average.
- Work-Life Balance: 63/100. Tulsa scores 63/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- 14% Savings Rate. Tulsa households save about 14% of income — well above the ~8% US average. Quiet wealth, compounding fast.
Tulsa famously pays remote workers to move there — and they get cheap homes and zero state-tax-on-retirement-income benefits.
With a median household income of ~$55k, a 14% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 85, Tulsa ranks #12 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
Only ~7% of Tulsa's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Tulsa has a short ~20-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Tulsa household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Tulsa's cost of living and savings rate.
How Tulsa feels about money
Four Tulsa money truths
Tulsa's savings rate runs 14% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Tulsa is cheaper than the US average — your paycheck stretches noticeably further than in coastal metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Oklahoma residents in Tulsa report a 68/100 happiness score with stress at 48/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Tulsa Remote has paid thousands of remote workers to relocate."
Money lessons from Tulsa
- 1
Geo-arbitrage your income
- 2
Stretch coastal salaries 2x
- 3
Save the difference, religiously
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Tulsa money FAQ
Is Tulsa, Oklahoma a good city for saving money?+
Tulsa households save about 14% of income, with a happiness score of 68/100 and a work-life balance score of 63/100. Tulsa famously pays remote workers to move there — and they get cheap homes and zero state-tax-on-retirement-income benefits.
What is the median household income in Tulsa?+
The median household income in Tulsa, Oklahoma is roughly $55,000 per year. About 50% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Tulsa?+
Tulsa's cost of living index sits at 85 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 55%.
How long is the average commute in Tulsa?+
Tulsa has a short ~20-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
How much urban green space does Tulsa have?+
Only ~7% of Tulsa's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
What money personality fits Tulsa?+
The Saver — Frugal by nature; small wins compound into big wealth.
What's surprising about money in Tulsa?+
Tulsa Remote has paid thousands of remote workers to relocate.
