Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 45% higher in Seattle, WA. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,638
+106% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,858
+111% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$2,359
+117% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$2,918
+115% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$912,100
+324% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$121,984
+83% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$72,610
+54% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.5 yr
+0.5 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
59.1%
44.2%
+14.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
67.5%
+33.5 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
22.2 min
26.6 min
+4.4 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
787.3
+15% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
2,928.9
5,107.9
+74% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+8.0°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
37.7 in
+1.2 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$5.77/gal
+33% in Seattle, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.75
+57% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
14.4
+6% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$17.32
+9% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Seattle, WA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / WA)
4.5%
6.5%
+2.0 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in OK

Oklahoma City vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Seattle?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Seattle?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).