Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 10% 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 $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 31% 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
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$795
$760
+4% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$882
$772
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$926
+15% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,158
+15% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$165,200
+23% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$45,984
+31% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$45,780
+3% in Oklahoma City, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
33.6 yr
+1.4 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
42.9%
+16.2 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
30.3%
+3.7 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.0 min
+4.2 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
1,189.8
+73% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,929.1
4,231.6
+44% in Springfield, 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
56.3°F
+5.2°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
45.6 in
+9.0 in in Springfield, 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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, 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 Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Springfield?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Springfield 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).