Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 15% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$795
+44% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$882
+36% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,085
+27% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,356
+18% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$215,100
+39% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$66,702
+15% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$47,230
+6% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
35.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
51.5%
59.1%
+7.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
34.0%
+13.4 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
22.2 min
+2.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
685.6
+6% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,719
2,928.9
+21% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
61.5°F
+1.6°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
36.5 in
+5.1 in in Charlotte, NC

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)
$2.20
$1.75
+20% in Charlotte, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
13.6
+15% in Charlotte, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$15.95
+9% in Charlotte, NC

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 (NC / OK)
4.75%
4.5%
+0.3 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in OK

Charlotte vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Oklahoma City?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).