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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The nomad equation: maximize runway between payments. We scored 4 cities across Oklahoma for cost, utilities, and rent. Oklahoma (index 89, rent $1,255/mo) is the top pick for 2026.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
At $1,255/month for rent and a cost index of 89, Oklahoma is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $66,702. You get the picture.
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
In plain English: at $1,207/month for rent and a cost index of 89, Tulsa is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. No major red flags in that number. Income is $58,407. That's more or less in line with the region.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
In plain English: Norman earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $65,060 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $257,977 — $209,393 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 81, while Healthcare trails at 95.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
Real talk: What does daily life actually cost in Broken Arrow? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 92) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 103) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $85,220 and homes at $283,474 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons. Hard to argue with that.
#1 Ranked: Oklahoma — cost index 89, rent $1,255/mo, income $66,702
Digital-nomad scoring: cost index 89, utilities 82, rent $1,255/mo — minimum monthly burn rate
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The nomad equation: maximize runway between payments. We scored 4 cities across Oklahoma for cost, utilities, and rent. Oklahoma (index 89, rent $1,255/mo) is the top pick for 2026.
Here's Oklahoma by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 89. Rent: $1,255/month. Income: $66,702/year. Home price: $203,329. Population: 702,767. The strongest category is Housing at 73; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,680 per year vs. the national median. In the context of rising national rents, this stability is worth noting.
If the first stat impressed you, this one grounds it. The 4 cities we track in Oklahoma paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 93. Median rent: $1,356/month — we had to double-check this one — . Household income: $68,847. Oklahoma is known for energy economy and persistently low costs — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
In plain English: Bottom line: Oklahoma leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
Oklahoma ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $66,702.
Oklahoma scores highest for digital nomads due to its below-average cost of living, median rent of $1,255/mo, and competitive median income of $66,702.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Oklahoma (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo, while Broken Arrow (ranked #4) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,671/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Oklahoma is $1,255/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $640 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Oklahoma is $203,329, which is 3.0× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Oklahoma has a 4.75% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.97%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.82%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.