($1,294) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Tulsa, OK

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Tulsa

Moving from Des Moines to Tulsa comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Tulsa is generally more expensive than Des Moines, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Tulsa are 4% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Des Moines.
  Home prices in Tulsa are 3.9% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Tulsa is 10.4% lower than in Des Moines, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Tulsa include Imperial, Hilti, and QuikTrip.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Tulsa, since the cost of living for a single person in Tulsa is 42.8% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Tulsa is 34.9% lower than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Tulsa is 20.34% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Tulsa, since the city’s sales taxes in Tulsa are 21.71% higher than in Des Moines.
• State income taxes in Tulsa are 7.95% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,283.45 in Tulsa to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. Tulsa

• Tulsa might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 41% less than Des Moines.
• Getting around Tulsa without a car might be more difficult than in Des Moines. Tulsa has a public transportation score of 4 out of 10, whereas Des Moines is ranked 5. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Tulsa neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Des Moines. Based on its score of 39 out of 100, Tulsa isn’t as walkable as Des Moines, which has a score of 45 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• If cycling is your thing, Tulsa is considered more bike-friendly than Des Moines in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Tulsa has a bike-friendliness score of 47 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Tulsa is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 51.94 in Tulsa, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Tulsa. With a crime index of 48.06, Tulsa ranks lower in overall safety than Des Moines, whose index is Des Moines's 57.8. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Tulsa and Des Moines is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Tulsa move

• Weather: Primarily in the spring and early summer months, the city is subjected to severe thunderstorms containing large hail, damaging winds, and, occasionally, tornadoes. Be sure to check your weather app to avoid inclement weather during your move.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: In Oklahoma, in-state household goods movers are certified and licensed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Oklahoma moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Oklahoma does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Tulsa. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Opting for Released Value Protection is the most cost-effective choice since it comes at no extra expense. Movers provide this option without additional charges, but the coverage it offers is minimal. With Released Value Protection, the mover's liability is limited to 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover were to lose or damage a set of fine china weighing 15 pounds, you would only be compensated $9 (60 cents x 15 pounds). If you require coverage for the full value of your items, it is advisable to discuss alternative options with the moving company or explore third-party insurance providers.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Tulsa

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Oil Capital of the World", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Tulsa.

Helpful moving resources