Uprootmap
Tulsa vs Joplin
Tulsa and Joplin
Photo: AbeEzekowitz / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Joplin are under the US rate in this release, 4.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Tulsa to Joplin
In 2022-2023, 39 households filed a move from Tulsa to Joplin (about 73 people, average adjusted gross income $44,564). 34 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $967 in Tulsa and $906 in Joplin. Tulsa has a state tax on wages. Joplin has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Joplin is 82% of the national level for the same work, against 90% in Tulsa.
Joplin averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 27°F. Tulsa is 227 sunny days, 94°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Joplin and 22 in Tulsa.
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, 39 households moved Tulsa → Joplin (about 73 people, average AGI $44,564). 34 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 Tulsa and Joplin 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 Joplin
Questions
Is Joplin cheaper than Tulsa after tax and rent?
Yes. Joplin leaves about $116 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $967 in Tulsa and $906 in Joplin.
Does Joplin have state income tax?
Joplin is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Tulsa to Joplin?
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.