Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 19% 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.

Oklahoma City, OK
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,301
+64% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,323
+50% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,462
+35% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,715
+26% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$377,800
+76% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$82,424
+24% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$51,990
+10% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.7 yr
+0.3 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
51.2%
+7.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
52.9%
+18.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.4 min
+1.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
491.5
+28% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,928.9
2,838
+3% 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
60.6°F
+0.9°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
46.0 in
+9.5 in in Raleigh, NC

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
$1.25
+29% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
16.0
+18% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$17.50
+10% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
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

Oklahoma City vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Raleigh?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Raleigh?
Oklahoma City 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).