Question 1

Is Mesa or Tulsa cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $790/month less than in Mesa, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,839/mo in Mesa versus $1,217/mo in Tulsa.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Mesa vs Tulsa?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $80,000/year before tax in Mesa, AZ and $65,500/year in Tulsa, OK — a difference of about $14,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Mesa or Tulsa cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Tulsa, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,307/month in Mesa and $8,592/month in Tulsa, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Mesa or Tulsa?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Tulsa costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Mesa68	Tulsa61
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,393	$3,603
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,307	$8,592
Salary for comfort	$80,000/yr	$65,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,839	$1,217
Median home value	$364,300	$189,600
Median household income	$78,779	$58,407
Unemployment	4.8%	4.8%
Housing score	47	78
Jobs score	20	26
Safety score	93	20
Climate score	72	98
Amenities score	92	53
Population	507.5K	412.3K
Summer high / winter low	106° / 46°	93° / 28°

Mesa, AZ vs Tulsa, OK