Question 1

Is Philadelphia or Tulsa cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $701/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,810/mo in Philadelphia versus $1,217/mo in Tulsa.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Philadelphia vs Tulsa?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $84,000/year before tax in Philadelphia, PA and $65,500/year in Tulsa, OK — a difference of about $18,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Philadelphia 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 $9,690/month in Philadelphia and $8,592/month in Tulsa, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Philadelphia 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	Philadelphia53	Tulsa61
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,304	$3,603
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,690	$8,592
Salary for comfort	$84,000/yr	$65,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,810	$1,217
Median home value	$232,400	$189,600
Median household income	$60,698	$58,407
Unemployment	4.9%	4.8%
Housing score	45	78
Jobs score	55	26
Safety score	4	20
Climate score	100	98
Amenities score	46	53
Population	1.6M	412.3K
Summer high / winter low	87° / 29°	93° / 28°

Philadelphia, PA vs Tulsa, OK