Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 26% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,496
+88% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,357
+54% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,559
+44% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,857
+37% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$366,300
+70% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$90,685
+36% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$49,430
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
37.4 yr
+2.4 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
59.1%
64.9%
+5.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
40.4%
+6.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.2 min
+1.0 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
96.7
+86% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,928.9
1,664.3
+43% 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
59.9°F
+1.6°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
44.3 in
+7.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
17.1
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$18.75
+18% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 / VA)
4.5%
5.3%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Oklahoma City vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Virginia Beach?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Virginia Beach?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).