City comparison
Springfield, MO vs Tulsa, OK
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Springfield, MO (88.6) and Tulsa, OK (89.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Springfield, MO goes as far as $100,700 in Tulsa, OK.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $987 a month in Tulsa, OK versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Tulsa, OK and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,763 a year in MO and $3,955 in OK.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK changes real buying power by −0.7%, purely from prices.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
- Tulsa, OK: price level 89.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MO | Tulsa, OK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 89.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,710 in Tulsa | $99,295 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $987/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,226 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,955 (OK) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $46,670 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and Tulsa, OK HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and Tulsa, OK.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 68.2 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 73.9 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 95.5 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 89.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → Tulsa, OK
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$192/yr.
67 Fair offer
Tulsa, OK → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$192/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | Tulsa, OK | Real change, Springfield → Tulsa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | Tulsa, OK | Tulsa pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,380 | $48,220 | $47,880 (−3.0%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $108,730 | $107,963 (+5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $81,320 | $80,747 (+10.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $84,790 | $84,192 (+6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.