Living Cost Compare
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA versus $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 4% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,102
$795
+28% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$882
+15% in Norfolk, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,085
+11% in Norfolk, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,602
$1,356
+15% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,900
$215,100
+21% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,017
$66,702
+4% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$47,230
+4% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
35.0 yr
+2.6 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
45.7%
59.1%
+13.4 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.7%
34.0%
+1.3 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.9 min
22.2 min
+0.7 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
479.5
685.9
+43% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
3,800.7
2,929.1
+23% in Norfolk, VA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.3°F
61.5°F
+0.2°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
44.8 in
36.5 in
+8.2 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
13.4
+24% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$27.15
+15% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 (VA / OK)
5.3%
4.5%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
4.50%
+1.3 pp in VA

Norfolk vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Oklahoma City?
Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).