Essentials
- City
- Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
- Population
- Approximately 413,000 (metro area ~1 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps fiber (Cox Communications, AT&T Fiber); 5G available
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD); 1 USD ≈ 1 USD. Banking via Chase, Bank of America, or online banks like Chime
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Tulsa water meets EPA standards)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T; prepaid SIM from T-Mobile $40/month for 10GB
- Banking for Expats
- Chase (Chase Total Checking $12/month, waived with $500 direct deposit); Revolut and Wise available
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, furnishedfinder.com, Zillow, ApartmentList
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted widely; Apple Pay, Google Pay common
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb ($60–$100/night), Furnished Finder ($800–$1,500/month), Vrbo
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel: Tulsa Hostel (dorm $30/night, private $70/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Brady Arts District (near museums, dining, and events)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Brookside (walkable, cafes, parks) or Downtown (coworking spaces, nightlife)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- 36° North (36n.co), 36 E Cameron St, Tulsa; day pass $20, monthly $200
- Best Cafe for Work
- Topeca Coffee, 1745 S Boston Ave; free Wi-Fi, great coffee
- Networking Events
- Tulsa Tech Tuesday (monthly at 36° North); also entrepreneurial meetups at The Forge
- Social Events for Expats
- Tulsa Expats and Internationals Facebook Group; monthly gatherings at The Phoenix
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (most common), Lyft also available
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tulsa Bicycle Club (rentals $15/day); Spin and Lime e-scooters downtown
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tulsa River Parks (riverfront sandy areas, but no ocean beach); closest: Grand Lake o' the Cherokees (1 hour drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- American Airlines (hub at Tulsa International Airport - TUL)
- Top International Airline
- Delta and United (connecting through DFW or Denver)
- Highway Access
- I-44, US-75, and I-244 intersecting downtown
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tulsa Intermodal Transit Center, 319 S Denver Ave (bus depot)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tulsa Transit (bus) day pass $2, monthly $55
- Regional Travel
- Greyhound buses, Amtrak station in Sapulpa (15 min away) for limited routes; drive to OKC (1.5 hrs) or Dallas (4 hrs)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Francis Health System, 6161 S Yale Ave; 24/7 ER
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga at Midtown Yoga, 2504 E 2nd St; classes $15 drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- YMCA of Greater Tulsa, 3100 S Troost Ave; $45/month
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Room (Cinderella Laundry), 1524 S Harvard Ave; self-serve $3/load, drop-off $10/load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chicken fried steak with gravy at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Vault, 1702 S Boston Ave; vegan comfort food $12-$18
- Best Dessert Spots
- Guthrie's Bakery, 5120 S Yale Ave; famous for their pies and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Reasor's grocery store (multiple locations); weekly deals
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon, Walmart, Target
- Grocery Delivery
- Walmart Grocery Delivery (free with $35+), Instacart, Shipt
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Blue Dome District (e.g., The Fur Shop, 510 N Boston Ave)
- Local Brewery
- Prairie Artisan Ales, 516 N Main St; tours and taproom
- Wine Bars
- Polo Grill & Wine Bar, 2038 Utica Square; wine flights $15-$25
- Street Food Stalls
- Tulsa State Fair (October), but year-round food trucks at The Lab (1502 S Main St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Elote Mexican at Elote Cafe & Catering, 314 S Cincinnati Ave
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Golden Driller (39th St & Sheridan Rd), The Gathering Place (park, 2650 S John Williams Way)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S Rockford Rd; admission $14
- Historical Sites
- Greenwood District (historic Black Wall Street); Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N Greenwood Ave
- Religious Sites
- Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S Boston Ave (historic)
- Annual Events
- Tulsa International Mayfest (May); Blue Dome Arts Festival (June)
- Cultural Districts
- Brady Arts District (between 1st and 6th Streets, Boston to Boulder Ave)
- Theater Venues
- Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E 2nd St; tickets $20-$80
- Local Markets
- Tulsa Farmers Market (Saturday at 2405 E Admiral Blvd, April–October)
- Music Scene
- Cain's Ballroom, 423 N Main St; live music venue
- Street Art
- Tulsa Walls project (murals across downtown, especially in the Arts District)
- Cooking Classes
- Tulsa Community College Culinary Kitchen, 910 S Boston Ave; $50/session
- Art Galleries
- Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E Brady St; free entry
- Historic Buildings
- Philtower Building, 427 S Boston Ave (1927 skyscraper, now offices/retail)
- Local Heritage
- Route 66 heritage (Tulsa has notable Route 66 sites like the Blue Whale of Catoosa)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, 6500 S Elwood Ave; hiking trails free
- National Parks Nearby
- None within 200 miles; closest is Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (3 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- River Parks Trail (10 miles along Arkansas River; free)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza (Route 66 bridge overlook, near 11th St & 33rd W Ave)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Oxley Nature Center, 6700 Mohawk Blvd; free
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire pits at Redbud Valley Nature Preserve, 16150 S 4170 Rd; permit required
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS (multiple locations), FedEx, USPS
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix, 1655 S Yale Ave; laptop repair $50+
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tulsa Table Tennis Club, 3100 S Troost Ave, YMCA; free with membership
- Language Classes
- Tulsa Community College (ESL classes $250/semester)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Tulsa Central Library, 400 Civic Center; free Wi-Fi, quiet rooms
- Community Centers
- Tulsa Desi Community Center, 12345 E 21st St; cultural events
- Gaming Lounges
- Vintage Stock gaming area at 3120 S Yale Ave (free to play)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel, 1800 S Cherokee Ln, Catoosa (15 min east); slots, table games
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approximately $2,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $80,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approximately $1,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $48,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approximately $1,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $108,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approximately $1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $60,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approximately $1,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $128,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approximately $900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $72,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% federal (U.S.) plus Oklahoma state 4% (effective ~25%)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% for non-residents (may be reduced by treaty)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for U.S. residents; non-residents taxed on U.S. source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% federal plus Oklahoma top 4.75% (total up to 41.75%)
- VAT
- No VAT; sales tax 8.517% (Tulsa combined rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, U.S. has strict CFC rules (Subpart F, GILTI)
- Property Tax
- Approximately 1% of assessed value annually (Tulsa County rates vary)
- Property Transaction Tax
- No transfer tax; recording fees ~$50-$100
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No special nomad visa; however, Oklahoma has relatively low state income tax compared to coastal states