Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 30% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$795
$750
+6% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$882
$857
+3% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,114
+3% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,240
+9% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$120,600
+44% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$46,628
+30% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$51,210
+8% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
33.5 yr
+1.5 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
37.2%
+21.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
29.9%
+4.1 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.9 min
+3.3 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
690
+1% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
2,929.1
3,533.4
+21% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+13.3°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
34.3 in
+2.3 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.04/gal
+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
29.9
+124% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$22.74
+16% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / NY)
4.5%
4%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
10.90%
+6.4 pp in NY

Oklahoma City vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Rochester?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Rochester?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).