Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Philadelphia?

Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Philadelphia?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Norman or Philadelphia?

Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Norman vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% higher in Norman, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Norman, OK

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$820

$1,126

+37% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$863

$1,189

+38% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,056

$1,394

+32% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,377

$1,406

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$239,300

$232,400

+3% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$65,060

$60,698

+7% in Norman, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,230

$54,310

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.6 yr

35.1 yr

+3.5 yr in Philadelphia, PA

Homeownership

52.7%

52.3%

+0.4 pp in Norman, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

34.6%

+11.6 pp in Norman, OK

Avg Commute

22.2 min

32.0 min

+9.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

268.6

917.1

+241% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

2,294.1

4,615.3

+101% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

61.5°F

57.1°F

+4.4°F in Norman, OK

Annual Precipitation

36.5 in

48.5 in

+12.0 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Norman, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

21.6

+61% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.15

$19.17

+29% in Norman, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Norman, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / PA)

4.5%

+1.5 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

3.07%

+1.4 pp in OK

Norman vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Philadelphia?: Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Philadelphia?: Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).