Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 37% higher in Washington, DC. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,763
+122% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$882
$1,885
+114% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,949
+80% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$2,249
+66% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$724,600
+237% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$106,287
+59% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$71,060
+50% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.9 yr
+0.1 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
59.1%
41.1%
+18.0 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
63.6%
+29.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
22.2 min
30.3 min
+8.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.6
936
+37% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,928.9
3,627.1
+24% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+3.3°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
39.7 in
+3.2 in in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
25.0
+84% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.95
$18.01
+13% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
4.5%
6%
+1.5 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in DC

Oklahoma City vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Washington?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Oklahoma City than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Washington?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).