Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 1% higher in Lexington, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$769
$795
+3% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$887
$882
+1% in Lexington, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,085
+3% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,356
+4% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$215,100
+21% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$66,702
+1% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$47,230
+3% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
35.0 yr
+0.2 yr in Lexington, KY
Homeownership
53.6%
59.1%
+5.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
34.0%
+13.3 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.2 min
+1.4 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
685.9
+155% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,304.4
2,929.1
+27% 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
55.6°F
61.5°F
+5.9°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
36.5 in
+8.6 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
13.4
+11% in Lexington, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$27.15
+8% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
4.50%
+1.0 pp in OK

Lexington vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Oklahoma City?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).