Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 23% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$877
$795
+9% in Memphis, TN
1 Bedroom
$948
$882
+7% in Memphis, TN
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,085
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$1,356
+6% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$215,100
+37% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$66,702
+30% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$47,230
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.0 yr
+0.7 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
46.0%
59.1%
+13.1 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
34.0%
+5.8 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
21.3 min
22.2 min
+0.9 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.5
685.6
+73% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,965.8
2,928.9
+58% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.1°F
61.5°F
+1.6°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
36.5 in
+17.2 in in Memphis, TN

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 — MATA vs EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.6
+10% in Memphis, TN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.54
$15.95
+3% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 (TN / OK)
7%
4.5%
+2.5 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in OK

Memphis vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Oklahoma City?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% 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).