CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Tulsa, OK Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableOK
Tulsa
89.2
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Tulsa is slightly cheaper than Lexington — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $76,800 in Tulsa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing11.5%
Lexington
77.1
Tulsa
68.2
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Lexington
96.2
Tulsa
93.8
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Lexington
101.7
Tulsa
100.2
🏥 Healthcare1.4%
Lexington
92
Tulsa
90.7
Utilities0.9%
Lexington
74.6
Tulsa
73.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Lexington to see what you'd need to earn in Tulsa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tulsa, OK
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in Tulsa

Formula: salary × (89.2 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 0.9602. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Tulsa, OK

Median Home Price
$243,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lexington has 11.5% lower housing costs compared to Tulsa.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

Tulsa, OK

Median Household Income
$65,600
Per Capita Income
$37,400
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
413,066
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareFinanceManufacturingAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Tulsa, OK
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.