Living Cost Compare
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Wichita

Kansas

$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 Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS 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 $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 5% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Oklahoma City, OK
Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio
$795
$726
+9% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$882
$761
+14% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,085
$976
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,356
$1,199
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,100
$179,500
+17% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$66,702
$63,072
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$47,630
+1% in Wichita, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.7 yr
+0.7 yr in Wichita, KS
Homeownership
59.1%
58.4%
+0.7 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
30.9%
+3.1 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.9 min
+3.3 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
685.9
1,238.7
+81% in Wichita, KS
Property Crime
2,929.1
5,284.9
+80% in Wichita, KS

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
57.0°F
+4.5°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
32.6 in
+3.9 in in Oklahoma City, OK

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
15.1
+13% in Wichita, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$25.12
+7% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Wichita, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Oklahoma City, OK
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Wichita, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Wichita, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Wichita, KS
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 / KS)
4.5%
6.5%
+2.0 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.58%
+1.1 pp in KS

Oklahoma City vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Oklahoma City or Wichita?
Wichita, KS 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 Wichita?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Oklahoma City versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Oklahoma City or Wichita?
Oklahoma City is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).