Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Philadelphia?

Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Philadelphia?

Oklahoma City 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).

Oklahoma City vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 9% higher in Oklahoma City, 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.

Oklahoma City, OK

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$795

$1,126

+42% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$882

$1,189

+35% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,085

$1,394

+28% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,356

$1,406

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$215,100

$232,400

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$66,702

$60,698

+9% in Oklahoma City, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,230

$54,310

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

35.1 yr

+0.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA

Homeownership

59.1%

52.3%

+6.8 pp in Oklahoma City, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

34.6%

+0.6 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

22.2 min

32.0 min

+9.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

685.6

916.8

+34% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

2,928.9

4,614.3

+58% 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 Oklahoma City, OK

Annual Precipitation

36.5 in

48.5 in

+12.0 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$4.30/gal

+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$2.50

+43% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

20.9

+54% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.95

$16.67

+5% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.92

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Philadelphia, PA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.90

+5% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.02

+6% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.68

+11% 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

Oklahoma City vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Philadelphia?: Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Philadelphia?: Oklahoma City 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).