Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 17% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$795
$864
+9% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$882
$866
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,109
+2% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,135
+16% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$185,100
+14% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$55,279
+17% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$49,990
+6% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
36.6 yr
+1.6 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
59.1%
45.4%
+13.7 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
40.2%
+6.2 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
1,372.9
+100% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,929.1
5,794.9
+98% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+5.8°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
40.9 in
+4.4 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
13.7
+2% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$24.13
+11% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / MO)
4.5%
4.225%
+0.3 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
4.70%
+0.2 pp in MO

Oklahoma City vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or St. Louis?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).