A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
11%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
25%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Tahlequah Oklahoma National
Cost of living8686100
Goods & Services8991100
Groceries9594100
Health care8893100
Housing7569100
Transportation8793100
Utilities10098100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tahlequah, OK

Knowing the cost of living in Tahlequah allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Tahlequah stands at 86, marking it 14% lower than the national average.

Everyday staples like clothes, toiletries and entertainment expenses play a big role in your total living costs. But in Tahlequah, these goods are 10.9% cheaper than the national average. So, you can enjoy what you need and love without emptying your wallet. Plus, you'll have more cash to put towards your savings or any other money goals you have, which is a real boost for your financial well-being.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Tahlequah?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Tahlequah. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Tahlequah Affordable?

Wondering if Tahlequah is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Tahlequah, for example, the median home price is 23.7% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 28% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Tahlequah boasting a median household income of $37,500, which is 32.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tahlequah?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Tahlequah, the transportation index is 13.4% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Tahlequah, the general sales tax rate starts at 4.5%, and income tax rates begin at 0.25%.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Tahlequah, the groceries index registers 5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Tahlequah cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Tahlequah is equal to the Oklahoma average
  • The cost of living in Tahlequah is 14% lower than the national average
  • Tahlequah housing is 25% lower than the national average
  • Oklahoma general sales tax is 12% lower than the national average
  • Oklahoma state income tax is 89% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Tahlequah

See all the best places to live around Tahlequah

Compare Tahlequah, OK Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$62,478$5,207$1,458$1,875
      Renters$21,236$1,770$495$637
      The affordability of the housing market in Tahlequah, OK as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Tahlequah homeowners, the median income is $62,478. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,458 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $21,236. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $495 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Oklahoma Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Oklahoma 4.5% 11%

      Oklahoma Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Oklahoma 0.25% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.00$24.261.1%
      Beauty Salon $41.67$45.568.6%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.11$1.2813.3%
      Movie $10.00$12.1317.6%
      Bowling $15.33$18.0014.8%

      Groceries

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.98$5.842.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5710.8%
      Milk $4.58$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.70$4.934.8%
      Pizza $12.03$12.090.5%
      Beer $9.90$10.414.9%

      Health Care

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $122.21$125.682.8%
      Doctor $146.33$135.787.8%
      Dentist $107.18$113.295.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.15$10.654.7%
      Lipitor $491.00$468.604.8%

      Housing

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      Home Price $141,000.00$184,700.0023.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,803.16$2,346.6923.2%
      Apartment Rent $683.00$949.0028.0%

      Transportation

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.13$3.469.7%
      Tire Balancing $68.72$59.9214.7%

      Utilities

      Item Tahlequah National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $199.95$193.993.1%
      Phone $194.17$192.251.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Proctor, OK378982.1%
      Shady Grove CDP (McIntosh County), OK2117426.1%
      Hulbert, OK5497722.9%
      Dry Creek, OK1537822.1%
      Gideon, OK3527921.3%
      Tahlequah, OK16,6848613.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Vernon, OH16,6848712.7%
      North Myrtle Beach, SC16,68411211.6%
      Pendleton, OR16,685990.7%
      Opelousas, LA16,6878613.8%
      Sylvan Lake, AB16,694n/a 
      Tahlequah, OK16,6848613.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.