Question 1

Is Oklahoma City or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $667/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,244/mo in Oklahoma City versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Oklahoma City vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $66,000/year before tax in Oklahoma City, OK and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $18,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Oklahoma City or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Oklahoma City, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,589/month in Oklahoma City and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Oklahoma City or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Oklahoma City costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Oklahoma City75	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,637	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,589	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$66,000/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,244	$1,810
Median home value	$215,100	$232,400
Median household income	$66,702	$60,698
Unemployment	4.3%	4.9%
Housing score	86	45
Jobs score	44	55
Safety score	70	4
Climate score	96	100
Amenities score	55	46
Population	688.7K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	94° / 29°	87° / 29°

Oklahoma City, OK vs Philadelphia, PA