Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 19% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$795
$786
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,183
+34% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,468
+35% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,729
+28% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$335,400
+56% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$53,766
+19% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$61,430
+30% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
33.3 yr
+1.7 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
26.2%
+32.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
12.5%
+21.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.1 min
+0.9 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
1,010.1
+47% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,929.1
2,391.4
+18% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
52.2°F
+9.3°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
49.0 in
+12.5 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Paterson, NJ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.3
24.9
+74% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.25
$17.68
+43% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Paterson, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / NJ)
4.5%
6.625%
+2.1 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in NJ

Oklahoma City vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Paterson?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Paterson?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).