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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Oklahoma's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Oklahoma at index 89, where median rent of $1,255/month saves renters $7,680/year versus the national median.
#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
Dollar for dollar, few states match Oklahoma's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Oklahoma at index 89, where median rent of $1,255/month saves renters $7,680/year versus the national median.
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 and homes at $203,329 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (4.75% in Oklahoma), combined state+local sales tax (8.97%), and effective property tax (0.82%). At 4.75% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Oklahoma is $54,147/year.
Worth noting: The 4 cities we track in Oklahoma paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 93. Median rent: $1,356/month. Household income: $68,847. Oklahoma is known for energy economy and persistently low costs — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
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.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
A closer look at Oklahoma: the cost index of 89 breaks down to a Housing index of 73 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 92 (weakest). And in practical terms, median rent is $1,255/month — 34% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,702, meaning locals spend about 23% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
411,894 residents · Oklahoma
A closer look at Tulsa: the cost index of 89 breaks down to a Housing index of 73 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 92 (weakest). Median rent is $1,207/month — 36% below the national median — while household income sits at $58,407, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
130,046 residents · Oklahoma
Dive into Norman's numbers: cost index 92 — though some people might weigh that differently — (20 points below national average), rent $1,289/month, income $65,060, and a home price of $257,977. That tracks. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 81, while Healthcare runs 95. With 130,046 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). Worth a deeper look.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Oklahoma | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $48,704 |
2Tulsa | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $48,704 |
3Norman | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $48,704 |
4Broken Arrow | 4.75% | 8.97% | 0.82% | $48,704 |
We combine state income tax rate, combined sales tax (state + local), and effective property tax rate into a total tax burden score. Cities are ranked by this combined metric — lower is better for your wallet. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Oklahoma ranks #1 in Oklahoma for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and 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.