Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Oklahoma City 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 (t…
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Oklahoma City 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
Oklahoma City is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,255/month — for better or worse — , which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 89. Income sits at $66,702. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
It checks most boxes — but the healthcare costs are the asterisk. And for the typical household, in Oklahoma City, the healthcare index sits at 92 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Bottom line: Oklahoma City, OK 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.
#1 Ranked: Oklahoma City, OK — cost index 89, rent $1,255/mo, income $66,702
2 of 2 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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
| 2 | FresnoCA | 105 | $1,693 | Details |
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
So, Oklahoma City. Cost index of 89, rent at $1,255/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $66,702, which is below the national median. That's more or less in line with the region. Not even close to the national average.
545,716 residents · California
The #2 spot goes to Fresno, and the breakdown explains why. And as a general rule, renters here pay $1,693/month — saving renters $2,424 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 96, keeping costs manageable. Fairly typical for a city this size. The weak spot? Housing at 112. The 30% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
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 City (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo, while Fresno (ranked #2) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,693/mo — a 16-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 City 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 City 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.
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.