Head to head
Memphis, TN vs Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $146/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Memphis is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Memphis53 | Oklahoma City75 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,783 | $3,637 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $8,376 | $8,589 |
| Salary for comfort | $65,500/yr | $66,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,274 | $1,244 |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $215,100 |
| Median household income | $51,211 | $66,702 |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 4.3% |
| Housing score | 65 | 86 |
| Jobs score | 14 | 44 |
| Safety score | 4 | 70 |
| Climate score | 100 | 96 |
| Amenities score | 47 | 55 |
| Population | 629.1K | 688.7K |
| Summer high / winter low | 92° / 33° | 94° / 29° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Memphis, TN
Oklahoma City, OK