Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 6% higher in Tampa, FL. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,242
+56% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,324
+50% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,673
+54% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,729
+28% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$375,300
+74% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$71,302
+7% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$48,940
+4% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.6 yr
+0.6 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
59.1%
50.2%
+8.9 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
44.6%
+10.6 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
22.2 min
24.7 min
+2.5 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
443.4
+35% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,928.9
1,473.2
+50% 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
73.4°F
+11.9°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
46.3 in
+9.8 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.25/gal
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
14.9
+10% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$23.62
+48% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / FL)
4.5%
6%
+1.5 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in OK

Oklahoma City vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Tampa?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Tampa?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).