Cost of Living in Lawton, OK
Lawton, OK — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lawton, OK to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lawton, OK?
With a price level of 85.9 (U.S. average = 100), Lawton, OK is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 43% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 27% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 5% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Lawton, OK vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | −14.1% |
| Housing | 57.4 | −42.6% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 73.0 | −27.0% |
| Other services | 95.5 | −4.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lawton, OK
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $777 | $31,080/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $782 | $31,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $999 | $39,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,382 | $55,280/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,676 | $67,040/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lawton, OK
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Lawton, OK | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,400 | $28,818 |
| $60,000 | $51,600 | $41,864 |
| $80,000 | $68,800 | $54,680 |
| $100,000 | $85,900 | $65,941 |
| $150,000 | $128,900 | $94,114 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Lawton, OK's median wage of $42,090 takes home about $2,888 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $782, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,106 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lawton, OK
- Federal income tax$2,871
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,610
- Medicare (1.45%)$610
- Oklahoma income tax$1,349
- Take-home pay$34,651
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Pay and living costs in Oklahoma cities
Half of Oklahoma’s 1,707,680 workers earn less than $45,600 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $32,740–$66,000 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tulsa, OK stretches a paycheck furthest, while Fort Smith, AR is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $47,230 | 90.4 | $1,002 | 31% | $2,210 | $42,639 |
| Tulsa, OK | $46,670 | 89.2 | $976 | 31% | $2,201 | $42,734 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $39,560 | 85.9 | $714 | 26% | $2,014 | $38,110 |
| Lawton, OK | $42,090 | 85.9 | $782 | 27% | $2,106 | $40,319 |
| Enid, OK | $40,500 | 84.3 | $799 | 29% | $1,988 | $39,688 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Lawton, OK vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton, OK | 85.9 | $782 | $42,090 | 42,810 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 88.3 | $1,239 | $42,920 | 42,900 |
| Cleveland, TN | 88.1 | $940 | $40,230 | 43,010 |
| Beckley, WV | 88.4 | $711 | $41,850 | 43,080 |
| Kankakee, IL | 96.4 | $1,011 | $45,830 | 42,340 |
| Anniston, AL | 85.9 | $757 | $42,680 | 43,570 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 91.6 | $946 | $50,340 | 43,900 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lawton, OK expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lawton, OK metro area are 85.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 57.4%. It is the #367 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lawton, OK?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,565 in Lawton, OK (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $42,090.
Can you afford Lawton, OK on the median wage?
A single worker on the $42,090 median wage takes home about $2,888 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $782 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Lawton, OK?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lawton, OK are $777 for a studio, $782 for one bedroom, $999 for two bedrooms and $1,382 for three bedrooms, including utilities.