Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 7% higher in Salem, OR. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Salem, OR

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,075
+35% in Salem, OR
1 Bedroom
$882
$989
+12% in Salem, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,337
+23% in Salem, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,778
+31% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$382,400
+78% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$71,900
+8% in Salem, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$55,310
+17% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.7 yr
+0.7 yr in Salem, OR
Homeownership
59.1%
55.7%
+3.4 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
31.4%
+2.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.4 min
+0.2 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
540.6
+21% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,929.1
2,878.6
+2% 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
53.0°F
+8.5°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
39.7 in
+3.1 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.09/gal
+29% in Salem, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
16.3
+22% in Salem, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$20.59
+24% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Salem, OR
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Salem, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Salem, OR
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Salem, OR
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / OR)
4.5%
None
+4.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
9.90%
+5.4 pp in OR

Oklahoma City vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Salem?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Salem?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Salem?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).