Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 41% 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.

Cleveland, OH
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$678
$795
+17% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$732
$882
+20% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,085
+20% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,356
+25% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$215,100
+129% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$66,702
+70% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$47,230
+6% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
35.0 yr
+1.3 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
59.1%
+17.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
34.0%
+12.7 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.9 min
22.2 min
+0.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
685.9
+57% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
2,929.1
+35% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
61.5°F
+8.8°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
36.5 in
+0.2 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cleveland, 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

Cleveland vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Oklahoma City?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Oklahoma City?
Cleveland 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).