Oklahoma City, OK Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Oklahoma City, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Oklahoma City →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 681,088 people call Oklahoma City, Oklahoma home. Household income runs $64,251 at the median, below what we see across the broader set of cities (-11%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Oklahoma City. The median home value sits at $196,700 (below the multi-city median at -40%), while renters pay a median of $1,012 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Oklahoma City's home-price-to-income ratio of about 3.1× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Prices in the area have gained 1.19% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,012/mo in Oklahoma City would take 18.9% of your income.
$594/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($196,700) would take 19.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$449/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Oklahoma City
Median home value is $196,700 and median gross rent is $1,012/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Oklahoma rose 1.19% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,244/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Oklahoma City's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Oklahoma City reported a violent crime rate of 681.7 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Oklahoma City
Planning a move to Oklahoma City? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Cost estimates for moving between Oklahoma City and nearby popular destinations:
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Oklahoma City, OK?
- In Oklahoma City, the median home value is $196,700 and median rent is $1,012 per month, against a median household income of $64,251. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oklahoma City?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Oklahoma City's median rent of $1,012/month takes an income of roughly $40,480 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Oklahoma City.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Oklahoma City?
- In Oklahoma City, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,012/month) takes about $40,480 in annual income, while buying the median home ($196,700) takes roughly $45,004 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Oklahoma City safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Oklahoma City's violent crime rate was 681.7 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Oklahoma City →
Compare Oklahoma City to similar cities
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Oklahoma City's.
Median rent $1,014/mo · Median income $63,114
Salary breakdown →