Question 1

Is Oklahoma City or Raleigh cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $587/month less than in Raleigh, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,244/mo in Oklahoma City versus $1,750/mo in Raleigh.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Oklahoma City vs Raleigh?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $66,000/year before tax in Oklahoma City, OK and $78,500/year in Raleigh, NC — a difference of about $12,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Oklahoma City or Raleigh 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 $9,872/month in Raleigh, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Oklahoma City or Raleigh?

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	Raleigh75
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,637	$4,224
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,589	$9,872
Salary for comfort	$66,000/yr	$78,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,244	$1,750
Median home value	$215,100	$377,800
Median household income	$66,702	$82,424
Unemployment	4.3%	3.1%
Housing score	86	56
Jobs score	44	88
Safety score	70	59
Climate score	96	100
Amenities score	55	62
Population	688.7K	470.8K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 29°	90° / 31°

Oklahoma City, OK vs Raleigh, NC