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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be clear: the numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Oklahoma stands out at 73 on the index, with rent of $1,255/month and household income of $66,702. That's more or less in line with the region. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
Let's be clear: the numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Oklahoma stands out at 73 on the index, with rent of $1,255/month and household income of $66,702. That's more or less in line with the region. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
In plain English: the numbers for Oklahoma are straightforward: 73 on the cost index, $1,255/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — rent, $66,702 income. That tracks. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. It lines up with what you'd expect.
Real talk: that said, For context: the typical American city has a cost index of 111, pays $1,895/month in rent, and earns $80,367 per household. The top-ranked cities here tell a dramatically different story — one that's worth exploring city by city.
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 (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
#1 Ranked: Oklahoma, OK — cost index 73, rent $1,255/mo, income $66,702
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OklahomaOK | 73 | $1,255 | Details |
| 2 | PortlandOR | 100 | $1,710 | Details |
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Look, Oklahoma earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. You get the picture. The 73 cost index sits 38 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 95.
630,498 residents · Oregon
Why Portland ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 100 on the cost index, residents save roughly 11% less than the typical American. It lines up with what you'd expect. Rent sits at $1,710/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — while the median household pulls in $88,792/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 100, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $524,251 — $56,881 above the national median.
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 73 and rent of $1,255/mo, while Portland (ranked #2) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,710/mo — a 27-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.
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.