OKC ranks among lowest cost of living in U.S. for large cities

Oklahoma City continues to be one of the most affordable places to live in the country, according to new data from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). In the second quarter of 2025, OKC ranked first in affordability among all U.S. cities with a population over 500,000. Among all 245 urban areas surveyed, OKC had the sixth lowest cost of living overall. 

The city’s composite index was 81.5, which is 18.5 points below the national average of 100. The city’s composite score declined by 0.8 points compared to the 2024 annual average, reflecting changes across several spending categories. Housing remained the most affordable category for OKC, with an index of 56.9, down 3.2 points from the previous year. Healthcare also saw a notable decrease, falling 4.7 points to 99.2. 

Transportation costs decreased by 4.4 points to 86.9, while grocery prices increased slightly to 95.4, up 0.5 points. Utilities rose by 2.2 points to 99.0. Miscellaneous goods and services increased by 1.5 points to 87.5. 

The Cost-of-Living Index tracks after-tax prices for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It measures regional price differences in six categories: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services. The data is collected by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and university research centers. 

Nationwide, New York (Manhattan) was the most expensive urban area in the survey, with a composite index of 232.0. Other high-cost areas included Honolulu, Hawaii, at 182.1 and San Jose, California, at 181.1. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tupelo, Mississippi, had the lowest cost of living at 78.8, followed by Decatur, Illinois, and Harlingen, Texas. 

The index also tracks grocery and coffee prices, which have been closely watched as food costs continue to affect household budgets. OKC’s grocery index remained moderate. 

Overall, the latest data confirms the OKC metro offers a high quality of life at a lower cost. This advantage continues to position the region as a top choice for both families and businesses. 

The Cost-of-Living Index is published quarterly and is available by subscription. Additional data tools such as the COLI Web Calculator and historical index data are also available through C2ER.