Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 19% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$795
+52% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$882
+44% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,085
+36% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,356
+13% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$215,100
+49% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$66,702
+19% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,230
+8% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
35.0 yr
+1.0 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
46.3%
59.1%
+12.8 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
34.0%
+24.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
22.2 min
+4.6 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
685.6
+14% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
3,548.3
2,928.9
+17% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
61.5°F
+1.1°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
36.5 in
+13.2 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.35/gal
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.75
+30% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
13.6
+10% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$15.95
+13% in Atlanta, GA

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 (GA / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.50%
+0.7 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Oklahoma City?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).