Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Tulsa, OK Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Tulsa, OK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,175 in Tulsa, OK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,234 in Tulsa, OK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,293 in Tulsa, OK.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 65% more expensive than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Tulsa, OK 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$16.95 $16.95

47.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$69.7 $69.7

71.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.15 $10.15

36.95%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.99 $4.99

11.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.62 $2.62

16.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.76 $1.76

40.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.97 $4.97

60.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.32 $6.32

26.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.08 $1.08

24.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.79 $3.79

33.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.80 $5.80

-7.59%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.53 $3.53

86.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$11.05 $11.05

129.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.24 $11.24

44.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.82 $14.82

36.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.04 $4.04

47.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.81 $1.81

51.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.76 $3.76

42.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.10 $4.10

61.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.62 $2.62

24.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.18 $3.18

19.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.80 $1.80

51.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.58 $9.58

18.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$12.11 $12.11

34.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.77 $1.77

61.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.67 $3.67

13.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.78 $1.78

51.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$44.67 $44.67

117.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.21 $1.21

42.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$30.08 $30.08

-2.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.75 $0.75

60.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K $33.6K

$35.7K $35.7K

-5.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$266 $266

$231 $231

15.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$58.0 $58.0

4.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$66.7 $66.7

14.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$48.54 $48.54

63.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$19.91 $19.91

103.47%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.52 $13.52

19.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,280 $2,280

$1,085 $1,085

110.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.6K $25.6K

15.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$65.1 $65.1

6.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$46.96 $46.96

11.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$114 $114

4.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$120 $120

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,173 $1,173

102.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$879 $879

112.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$1,795 $1,795

163.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,443 $1,443

143.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$1,820 $1,820

323.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$1,705 $1,705

215.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,434 $3,434

89.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.56

-2.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tulsa, OK: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,173 in Tulsa, OK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 89% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $70.0 in Tulsa, OK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $373 per month, with Tulsa, OK cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs Tulsa, OK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tulsa, OK is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 89% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,173 in Tulsa, OK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tulsa, OK – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,175 in Tulsa, OK – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,175 in Tulsa, OK versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tulsa, OK but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Tulsa, OK the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tulsa, OK is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Tulsa, OK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.