Cost of Living in Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Oklahoma City, OK to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Oklahoma City, OK?
With a price level of 90.4 (U.S. average = 100), Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 26% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 26% 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 Oklahoma City, OK vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.4 | −9.6% |
| Housing | 73.9 | −26.1% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 74.1 | −25.9% |
| Other services | 95.5 | −4.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Oklahoma City, OK
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $926 | $37,040/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,002 | $40,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,227 | $49,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,652 | $66,080/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,840 | $73,600/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma City, OK | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,200 | $30,183 |
| $60,000 | $54,200 | $43,836 |
| $80,000 | $72,300 | $56,985 |
| $100,000 | $90,400 | $68,904 |
| $150,000 | $135,600 | $98,392 |
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 Oklahoma City, OK's median wage of $47,230 takes home about $3,212 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,002, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,210 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Oklahoma City, OK
- Federal income tax$3,488
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,928
- Medicare (1.45%)$685
- Oklahoma income tax$1,580
- Take-home pay$38,549
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma City, OK
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
Oklahoma City, OK vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 90.4 | $1,002 | $47,230 | 677,680 |
| Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $1,026 | $48,370 | 685,190 |
| Richmond, VA | 97.9 | $1,505 | $51,460 | 660,350 |
| Providence, RI | 101.8 | $1,423 | $53,680 | 714,120 |
| Raleigh, NC | 98.2 | $1,596 | $51,990 | 743,120 |
| Memphis, TN | 92.2 | $1,137 | $46,890 | 611,670 |
| Hartford, CT | 102.7 | $1,477 | $59,940 | 599,770 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Oklahoma City, OK expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area are 90.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 73.9%. It is the #281 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Oklahoma City, OK?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,245 in Oklahoma City, OK (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,230.
Can you afford Oklahoma City, OK on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,230 median wage takes home about $3,212 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,002 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Oklahoma City, OK?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Oklahoma City, OK are $926 for a studio, $1,002 for one bedroom, $1,227 for two bedrooms and $1,652 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Oklahoma City, OK
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $131,540
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $102,840
- General and Operations Manager — $97,110
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $99,400
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $96,100
- Logistician — $94,520
- Project Management Specialist — $85,400
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,280
- Training and Development Specialist — $65,850
- Human Resources Specialist — $63,170
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $63,160
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $122,390
- Computer User Support Specialist — $55,230
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $103,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $50,650
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $48,780
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $48,440
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $31,300
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,460
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,920
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,860
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $39,810
- Nursing Assistant — $36,560
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $28,050
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $75,270
- Security Guard — $36,320
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,540
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,160
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,990
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,960
- Bartender — $24,790
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,760
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $31,960
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $28,870
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $25,090
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $63,920
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $55,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,700
- Retail Salesperson — $30,160
- Cashier — $28,680
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,310
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,710
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,150
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $41,850
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $40,390
- Customer Service Representative — $39,330
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,870
- Office Clerks, General — $37,850
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,780
- Electrician — $61,010
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $59,150
- Construction Laborer — $39,430
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $79,060
- Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $68,140
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,820
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $43,760
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $68,180
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,940
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,270
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,720
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,960
- Light Truck Driver — $40,130
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,010
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,120