Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 3% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. 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.

Louisville, KY
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$786
$795
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$877
$882
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,085
+1% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,356
+4% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$215,100
+3% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$66,702
+3% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$47,230
+2% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
35.0 yr
+2.7 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
59.1%
+1.5 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
34.0%
+0.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.2 min
+0.5 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
685.6
+10% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,535.4
2,928.9
+17% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
61.5°F
+3.3°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
36.5 in
+8.4 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.35/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
13.6
+9% in Louisville, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$15.95
+17% in Louisville, KY

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

Louisville vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Louisville, KY's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville 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 Louisville versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Oklahoma City?
Louisville 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).