Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 39% higher in Washington, DC. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$820
$1,763
+115% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$863
$1,885
+118% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,949
+85% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$2,249
+63% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$724,600
+203% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$106,287
+63% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$71,060
+50% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
34.9 yr
+3.3 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
52.7%
41.1%
+11.6 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
63.6%
+17.4 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
22.2 min
30.3 min
+8.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
936.3
+249% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,294.1
3,627.9
+58% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+3.3°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
39.7 in
+3.2 in in Washington, DC

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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
25.4
+90% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$22.01
+19% in Norman, 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 (OK / DC)
4.5%
6%
+1.5 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in DC

Norman vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Washington?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Washington?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).