Rent vs buy in Tulsa, OK
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, typical rent is $1,273 /mo and typical home is $217,760.
Renting comes out ahead by $7k over 7 years
A 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate, with the typical rent and home value in Tulsa's market. You reach the break-even point in year 9.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $7k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 9 when owning catches up
- The real cost of owning
- $2,000 per month year 1, against $1,273 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Tulsa?
Renting costs $6,971 less over 7 years, counting what you get back when you sell. For the first 8 years, renting is cheaper. By year 9, owning catches up.
Renting wins. Buying. Net cost to date, by year.
Tulsa's average rent compared with the mortgage payment
The rent and the mortgage aren't everything, so here are all monthly costs in year 1, using Tulsa's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,273 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,187 | $1,046 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $178 | 0.98% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $150 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $181 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,697 | $141 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $354 | What that cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $91 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,000 | Cash out, minus the equity part, then add the two lines above. |
The numbers behind Tulsa's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $217,760
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,273 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Oklahoma, 1995 to 2025
- 4% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Tulsa
- 0.98% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Tulsa
- $150 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What could change the Tulsa result?
Every line shows the threshold that changes the 7-year verdict in Tulsa, and everything else stays as it is.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home price growth stays under 4.4% a year (we use 4%, which is Oklahoma's long-run rate).
- Mortgage rates hold above 6.67%.
- Rent on a home like this comes to under $1,350 a month, and the typical figure here is $1,273.
- Moving happens before year 9.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow at more than 4.4% a year.
- You lock in a rate under 6.67% for the mortgage (the rate today is 7.24%).
- That same home would cost more than $1,350 a month to rent.
- You stay for 9 years or more.
Tulsa compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Tulsa | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $217,760 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,273 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 14.3 (#672 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.98% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 48% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Oklahoma cities
- Too close to call: Oklahoma City, OK, where the edge goes to renting by $3k.
- Renting is the better deal: Norman, OK, where renting leads by $20k.
- Buy. Moore, OK. Owners lead by $8k.
- Buy. Enid, OK. Buying holds the edge by $22k.
- Rent. Stillwater, OK. Renting wins here by $27k.