Uprootmap
Joplin vs Tulsa
Joplin and Tulsa
Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Tulsa are above the US rate in this release, 9.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Joplin to Tulsa
In 2022-2023, 34 households filed a move from Joplin to Tulsa (about 55 people, average adjusted gross income $67,794). 39 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $906 in Joplin and $967 in Tulsa. Joplin has a state tax on wages. Tulsa has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Tulsa is 90% of the national level for the same work, against 82% in Joplin.
Tulsa averages 227 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 27°F. Joplin is 223 sunny days, 90°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Tulsa and 20 in Joplin.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 34 households moved Joplin → Tulsa (about 55 people, average AGI $67,794). 39 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Joplin and Tulsa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 131 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,100
- Rent a truck
- $400–$800
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Dig into Tulsa
Questions
Is Tulsa cheaper than Joplin after tax and rent?
No. Tulsa leaves about $116 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $906 in Joplin and $967 in Tulsa.
Does Tulsa have state income tax?
Tulsa is in Oklahoma, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Joplin to Tulsa?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.