Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 9% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$795
+27% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$882
+25% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,085
+23% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,356
+25% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$215,100
+22% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$66,702
+9% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$47,230
+8% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
35.0 yr
+1.4 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
54.8%
59.1%
+4.3 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
34.0%
+0.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
26.7 min
22.2 min
+4.5 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
492.4
685.6
+39% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,433.5
2,928.9
+20% in Oklahoma City, OK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
61.5°F
+3.9°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
36.5 in
+3.1 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.6
+17% in Arlington, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$15.95
+35% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / OK)
6.25%
4.5%
+1.8 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in OK

Arlington vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Oklahoma City?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).