Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 21% higher in Raleigh, NC. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$820
$1,301
+59% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$863
$1,323
+53% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,462
+38% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,715
+25% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$377,800
+58% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$82,424
+27% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$51,990
+10% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
34.7 yr
+3.1 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
52.7%
51.2%
+1.5 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
52.9%
+6.7 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.4 min
+1.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
491.5
+83% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,294.1
2,838.4
+24% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+0.9°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
46.0 in
+9.5 in in Raleigh, NC

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
15.1
+13% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$27.56
+2% in Raleigh, NC

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 (OK / NC)
4.5%
4.75%
+0.3 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
3.99%
+0.5 pp in OK

Norman vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Raleigh?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Raleigh?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).