Living Cost Compare
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,070 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 7% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$883
$795
+10% in Fairbanks, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,076
$882
+18% in Fairbanks, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,428
$1,085
+24% in Fairbanks, AK
3 Bedroom
$2,019
$1,356
+33% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$255,700
$215,100
+16% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$72,077
$66,702
+7% in Fairbanks, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,810
$47,230
+24% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
35.0 yr
+6.4 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
40.5%
59.1%
+18.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.5%
34.0%
+7.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
14.1 min
22.2 min
+8.1 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726.1
685.9
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
3,504.2
2,929.1
+16% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
27.7°F
61.5°F
+33.8°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
10.8 in
36.5 in
+25.7 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.85/gal
+26% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.3
+49% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$31.25
+80% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Fairbanks, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Fairbanks, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / OK)
None
4.5%
+4.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in OK

Fairbanks vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Oklahoma City?
Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).