Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 6% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,183
+49% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,195
+35% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,374
+27% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,447
+7% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$328,100
+53% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$62,671
+6% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$51,460
+9% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.5 yr
+0.5 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
43.5%
+15.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
44.1%
+10.1 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.1 min
+0.1 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
349
+49% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,929.1
3,240.2
+11% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+2.6°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
43.6 in
+7.1 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK

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)
13.4
17.6
+32% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$23.66
+13% in Oklahoma City, 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 / VA)
4.5%
5.3%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Oklahoma City vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Richmond?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Richmond?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).