Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 22% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$791
$795
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$817
$882
+8% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,085
+6% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,356
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$215,100
+0% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$66,702
+29% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$47,230
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.0 yr
+2.0 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
38.9%
59.1%
+20.2 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
34.0%
+7.3 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
22.2 min
+0.9 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
685.9
+20% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
2,929.1
+24% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
61.5°F
+7.2°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
36.5 in
+5.4 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
13.4
+31% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$27.15
+19% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cincinnati, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cincinnati, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / OK)
5.75%
4.5%
+1.3 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.50%
+1.8 pp in OK

Cincinnati vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Oklahoma City?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Oklahoma City?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).