Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 18% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$795
$795
about equal
1 Bedroom
$882
$891
+1% in Tucson, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,146
+6% in Tucson, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,520
+12% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$242,200
+13% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$54,546
+18% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$47,760
+1% in Tucson, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.6 yr
+0.4 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
51.7%
+7.4 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
30.2%
+3.8 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
645.8
+6% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,928.9
3,460
+18% in Tucson, AZ

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
70.2°F
+8.7°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
11.6 in
+24.9 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$5.57/gal
+28% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
15.6
+15% in Tucson, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$19.69
+23% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / AZ)
4.5%
5.6%
+1.1 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
2.50%
+2.0 pp in OK

Oklahoma City vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Tucson?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Tucson, AZ's $1,060, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Tucson?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).