Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,070 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 62% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 47% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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.

Cambridge, MA
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$795
+64% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$882
+65% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,085
+64% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,356
+59% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$215,100
+79% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$66,702
+47% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$47,230
+29% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
35.0 yr
+4.5 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
33.7%
59.1%
+25.4 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
34.0%
+46.2 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
22.2 min
+3.9 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
685.9
+57% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,929.1
+10% 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
51.5°F
61.5°F
+10.0°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
36.5 in
+7.3 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.85/gal
+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.3
+52% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$31.25
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / OK)
6.25%
4.5%
+1.8 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
4.50%
+4.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 62% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Oklahoma City?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).