Median rent is 9% lower in Oklahoma City ($1,130/mo vs $1,238/mo). Buying is cheaper in Oklahoma City, where the median home runs $231,300 versus $242,900. Households earn more in Kansas City ($69,166 vs $68,656 a year). Taken together, Oklahoma City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.4 against 93.2 — about 2% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Oklahoma City is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.4 in Oklahoma City vs 93.2 in Kansas City (US national average = 100)
City A
Kansas City, MO
City B
Oklahoma City, OK
How much would you need to earn in Oklahoma City, OK to maintain your standard of living from Kansas City, MO?
Equivalent salary in Oklahoma City, OK
$73,585
You could earn $1,415 less (2% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Kansas City
Missouri
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Oklahoma City at $1,130/mo compared to $1,238/mo in Kansas City (9% gap). Median home values are within 5% of each other: $242,900 in Kansas City and $231,300 in Oklahoma City.
Metric
Kansas City
Oklahoma City
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Kansas City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Oklahoma City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Oklahoma City has cleaner air on average: 48.0 AQI (Good) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Oklahoma City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 48.0).
Oklahoma City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.4 versus 93.2 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Oklahoma City.
Median rent is $1,238/mo in Kansas City, MO and $1,130/mo in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma City, OK has the lower rent by about 9%.
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City, MO and $68,656 in Oklahoma City, OK. Kansas City, MO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Oklahoma City, OK has better air quality on average: 48.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Kansas City, MO is equivalent to roughly $98,114 in Oklahoma City, OK (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
