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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Oklahoma is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Oklahoma leads at an index of 89 with rent at just $1,255/month — 34% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
What does daily life actually cost in Oklahoma? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 73) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,702 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $203,329 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
Tulsa earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $58,407 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $212,757 — $254,613 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 73, while Healthcare trails at 92.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
Norman is one of the cheaper options here. And more often than not, rent is $1,289/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 92. Income sits at $65,060. Fairly typical for a city this size.
119,194 residents · Oklahoma
The #4 spot goes to Broken Arrow, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,671/month — saving renters $2,688 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 92, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 103. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget. Below the radar, but not for long.
#1 Ranked: Oklahoma — cost index 89, rent $1,255/mo, income $66,702
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Oklahoma is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Oklahoma leads at an index of 89 with rent at just $1,255/month — 34% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Oklahoma earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $66,702 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $203,329 — $264,041 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 73, while Healthcare trails at 92.
Perhaps more importantly, The 4 cities we track in Oklahoma paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 93. Median rent: $1,356/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — . Household income: $68,847. Oklahoma is known for energy economy and persistently low costs — and the data backs that reputation convincingly (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
Oklahoma ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $66,702.
Oklahoma, OK has the lowest housing index at 73, compared to the national average of 100.
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.