Best places to live in Oklahoma
CityLedger tracks 2 Oklahoma metros, led by Oklahoma City. Cost of living runs from about 89 to 90 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 2 metros in Oklahoma, the largest being the Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area (around 1,497,821 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $69,658 in Tulsa to $72,930 in Oklahoma City, and typical rent from $1,115 a month in Tulsa upward — a reminder that "Oklahoma" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Tulsa has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 89 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Oklahoma City delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $80,668.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Oklahoma levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 9.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Oklahoma state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Oklahoma City earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 52/100; Oklahoma City is the fastest-growing, up 6.3% over the latest population estimate; Tulsa carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $14 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 52 | 90 | $72,930 | $1,162/mo |
| Tulsa, OK | 48 | 89 | $69,658 | $1,115/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Oklahoma — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Oklahoma?
- By overall price level, Tulsa is the most affordable metro in Oklahoma, at about 89 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Oklahoma?
- Oklahoma City has the highest cost-adjusted income in Oklahoma — a median of about $80,668 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Oklahoma have a state income tax?
- Yes. Oklahoma levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 9.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Oklahoma metro has the highest livability score?
- Oklahoma City, at 52/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.